Behind the "new life" of waste glass, how to break the new model of recycling?

On the occasion of the 2025 June Five-Year Environment Day, the International Association of Wine Producers (FSPA) and the China Association of Circular Economy jointly released the report "Research on the Recycling of Glass Packaging Containers in the Food and Beverage Industry", which analyzes the current situation of recycling in this field around the whole value chain, and puts forward relevant suggestions for promoting the recycling of waste glass. Pernod Ricard China's innovative waste glass recycling solution in cooperation with Shanghai Yanlongji Renewable Resources Utilization Co., Ltd. was selected as an advanced practice case in this report.

Waste glass piled up out of the "invisible mine"

More and more glass packaging application companies have begun to pay attention to the recycling of glass packaging, and actively seek ways to improve the recycling rate and reduce the environmental impact.

Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, CEO of Pernod Ricard China, said: "Pernod Ricard attaches great importance to glass recycling, which is essential to reduce the Group's waste and carbon emissions. We are delighted to be the rotating President of the International Wine Producers Association this year, and we hope to unleash the full potential of glass for unlimited use, so that the concept of circularity can be integrated throughout the life cycle of products, and we are committed to nature and the environment." ”

As an important part of resource recycling, the waste glass recycling industry is ushering in a new development opportunity.

The release of this report provides a more comprehensive case and a rich practical perspective for the construction of waste glass packaging recycling subdivision and industrial collaboration. In order to better improve the recycling rate of glass packaging and promote the green and sustainable development of the industry, the report puts forward suggestions from many aspects, such as improving the construction of the standard system, increasing supervision, improving the recycling network system, and improving the technical level of the whole chain.

With the in-depth promotion of China's "dual carbon" goal and the importance of ESG by enterprises, how to improve the recycling of glass packaging has become a key proposition that relevant enterprises and even the entire industry should pay attention to.

The recycling rate of waste glass needs to be improved urgently

With the enhancement of environmental protection awareness in the whole society, the resource utilization of waste glass has received more and more attention.

At present, some regions in China have established a relatively complete regional recycling network system, and at the same time, enterprises and enterprises, governments and enterprises have established closer cooperative relations in order to jointly promote the resource utilization of waste glass. For example, Pernod Ricard China has partnered with Yanlongji to identify and extract waste glass from slag, a by-product of municipal solid waste incineration. In addition, some companies have built a complete chain from recycling in the consumer market to recuperation in glass factories, while others have set up waste glass collection areas and deposit recycling systems through online platforms and offline stores to recycle waste glass to reduce waste and resource consumption.

From local governments have introduced relevant policies to promote the construction of a unified collection and transportation system for waste glass, to enterprises actively participating in glass recycling and treatment projects, with the help of advanced technology to achieve efficient sorting and processing of waste glass, waste glass recycling is gradually building a complete and efficient "green" industrial chain, injecting strong impetus into the sustainable use of resources.

Construct a new paradigm of resonance between recycling and enterprise development

This practice is not only conducive to reducing waste generation and improving the recycling rate of waste glass, but also provides a new idea for domestic waste glass recycling while playing a demonstration role of leading enterprises.

Pernod Ricard has long been concerned about "recycling", the pillar of its corporate sustainability strategy, and actively practices the principles of "optimizing the bottle shape and body weight, and increasing the utilization rate of recycled glass", and designs, produces and distributes products in a way that optimizes and conserves natural resources, so as to minimize the waste of resources that may occur at every step. At present, its Diechuan whisky bottles have contained 30% recycled glass, and Helan Mountain wine bottles have reached 39% recycled glass.

Whether it is continuously exploring new ways of waste glass recycling or optimizing from raw material procurement, manufacturing, product packaging and other links, it is an important measure for Pernod Ricard China to respond to the call of circular economy. Driven by policies and markets, sustainable development has become a profound change that runs through the overall situation of the enterprise.