BRAZIL – O-I Brazil is spearheading glass recycling efforts with its innovative program, “Recycle and Make a Goal,” aimed at leveraging football matches to promote waste reduction and decrease emissions in glass production.
This collaborative initiative, conducted in partnership with São Paulo’s Municipal Department of Urban Cleaning, startup Grupo Seiva, and the “Queen of Recycling” Work Cooperative, has already achieved significant success.
During a January match between São Paulo FC and Santo André near São Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium, the project debuted to kick off the São Paulo Football Championship.
Through strategically placed crushing machines at four collection points near the stadium, courtesy of the Seiva Group, glass disposal for fans has been simplified.
Supporters were encouraged to utilize these points, while the Queen of Recycling team facilitated material gathering.
So far, over 8,000 glass bottles have been collected for recycling, with all cullet forwarded to O-I for transformation into new glass packaging.
Looking forward, O-I intends to expand the project to cities where it operates manufacturing facilities, ensuring continued success.
Alexandre Macário, O-I Brazil’s Manager of Circular Economy, expressed the commitment to make this initiative a permanent fixture in São Paulo’s stadiums, despite challenging weather conditions during the event.
In a parallel effort towards sustainability, O-I Glass recently invested €95 million (US$102.95m) in two of its French glass packaging production facilities.
The investment aims to enhance sustainability, flexibility, and productivity at the Gironcourt-sur-Vraine and Reims operations, aligning with the company’s updated ESG roadmap and capital spending plan.
At Gironcourt-sur-Vraine, €55 million (US$59.60m) will be utilized to reconstruct a furnace and equip it with innovative oxy-gas advanced technology, in collaboration with a key customer.
This technology, already operational at the O-I plant in Vayres, France, reduces carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by up to 18%. Additionally, a production line will be renovated to enhance flexibility and capacity.
In Reims, a €40 million (US$54.18m) investment has been concluded for a substantial upgrade, including the refurbishment of a furnace and a production line, along with the installation of new equipment.
These investments underscore O-I’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, ensuring a greener future for the glass packaging industry.
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