The US Department of Energy has announced that it will host a workshop on glass decarbonization May 16 and 17 in Pittsburgh, Pa., with glass manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, raw material providers and other stakeholders invited to the event. The workshop aims to identify challenges and possible solutions to reduce the industry's carbon footprint, including electrification, energy efficiency and glass circularity and recycling.

O-I, Glass has announced that in honor of Earth Day, the manufacturer will run a glass and electronics recycling drive at its campus in Perrysburg, Ohio, on April 25. Participants will be able to drop off glass bottles and jars as well as flat-screen TVs and monitors, printers, small kitchen appliances and other electronics.

O-I, Glass and FX Matt Brewing Company are jointly launching a ready-to-drink version of O-I's single-serve recyclable Drinktainers for Right Coast Spirits Italian Ice. "The sensory experience of Drinktainer, paired with the invigorating real fruit and vodka flavors in Right Coast Spirits' Italian Ice line promises a superior drinking experience versus the current RTD offerings in the market," said Sarah Brennan, O-I, Glass' North America marketing and NPD director.

The packaging industry's demand for workers far exceeds the supply of graduates with packaging science degrees, but the packaging science program at Clemson University is working hard to recruit more students and equip them with the necessary skills, according to Greg Batt, the program's director. Among the trends that are reshaping the undergraduate experience are an emphasis on design and sustainability, an increased reliance on digital tools and the emergence of data analytics as a key competency, Batt shared.

The Estee Lauder Company's efforts to make their packaging more sustainable, including through shifts from plastic to glass packaging and the increased use of post-consumer recycled material, have resulted in the designation of 71% of its packaging by weight as recyclable, reusable, refillable or recoverable, the company said in an announcement. The company's dual approach of luxury and sustainability led to a redesign of the Revitalizing Supreme+ Moisturizer Youth Power Creme in a glass container with refillable pods.

Eunomia Research & Consulting and the Ball Corporation have updated their 2021 report on the link between states' policies and their recycling outcomes. The analysis indicates that nine of the 10 states with the highest rates of recycling have implemented container deposit return programs, while none of the bottom 10 states have passed bottle bill legislation.

California's recent addition of new types of containers to its list through the Beverage Container Recycling Program has caused some confusion over which containers can be redeemed for cash and which are ineligible, said Maysoon Namoo, owner of South Bay Recycling. Recycling centers must now accept wine, spirit and juice containers, although these containers are not required to have their California Redemption Value listed on the label until July 2025.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recently submitted a recommendation on an extended producer responsibility program to the state's joint budget committee, outlining a planned increase of recycling for rural and low-income residents, investments in materials recovery facilities and a possible expansion of in-state end markets, particularly for glass. If the budget committee approves the plan, it will take effect during the first quarter of 2026.

A recent Propel Software survey of 2,000 consumers in the US has found that a majority of consumers describe eco-friendly products and causes as important factors in their purchasing decisions, with 47% of consumers reporting that they rely on product packaging to understand a product's sustainability over advertisements or company websites. "Those brands that accurately communicate their environmental practices to consumers are being rewarded with loyal customers who are spending more with them," said Propel Software CEO Ross Meyercord.