To be recycled, more than 80% of the Swiss glass is exported abroad – RTS.CH

With a highest recycling rate in the world, Switzerland is a model in this area. However, Almost 95% of the glass is collected. Nevertheless, Each year, this represents more than 40 kilos per inhabitant and resident.

It must be said that 90% of glass bottles are only used once before being thrown. However, For a long time, the used glass was resumed in Switzerland to make new bottles.

Decline of recycling in Switzerland – Recycled, more than 80% swiss

Until the last year. Nevertheless, a third of the glass collected in Switzerland was recycled and reborn in the Verropack factory in St-Prex. Similarly, More than half was already exported to Europe and recycled, more than 80% swiss less than 20% transformed into insulation or water filter in Swiss companies.

But since the last glassware in Switzerland closed in June 2024, more than 80% of the glass has been sent abroad.

Where does Swiss glass go? – Recycled, more than 80% swiss

Today, more than 288,000 tonnes of glass are therefore exported each year, the equivalent of more than 11,000 trucks.

To understand his journey, Development conducted the investigation. Meanwhile, Jars with tracers have been deposited in containers from different Swiss regions.

Long journeys

The results are surprising: the glass travels sometimes over long distances. to Italy, Germany, Austria and even in the Czech Republic.

It is the most distant destination, 650 km as the crow flies, but the only one connected directly to the rail. For the others, our jars have taken the road on a part or the entire journey.

The recycled, more than 80% swiss ecological impact in question

Faced with this observation. Martina Rapp, expert in circular economy at the Dubilitas Foundation, deplores the situation. “It is regrettable to see that when Swiss consumers make an effort to sort their bottles. they will make these long distances to be recycled abroad,” she explains.

Abroad, the shards are sorted and transformed into a calcineal (see photo below), then re-eated into new bottles. “On average. a bottle of wine contains 80% recycled glass,” said Riccardo Galli, Eurovetro, a Milanese company that takes care of this stage.

“The merger is done at lower temperatures. therefore with less energy expenditure and less CO2 emissions.”

Despite the positive aspects of recycling, the impacts related to transport are significant. The packaging is then reinforced in Switzerland.

Towards an alternative: reuse

What if the solution was to reuse the packaging, rather than recycling them? Zero Waste Europe. Reloop, two European NGOs, indicate in a study published in 2020 that reusable glass bottles produce 85 % fewer carbon emissions than a single -use glass bottle.

Regional projects have already emerged. as “I bring it back” or “It’s worth a return” In the cantons of Geneva and Vaud, re -use systems of recorded glass packaging.

Washable wine bottle

On the coast, winegrowers have come together to launch “Bottleback“Two years ago. The concept: standardized wine bottles, without instructions, washed in Switzerland.

After a test phase. the association has grown and recycled, more than 80% swiss will launch the production of 2 million bottles by the end of the year.

“The bottle must stop being perceived as a waste. becomes a reusable property,” said Noémie Graff, winemaker and co -founder of Bottleback.

Movement initiated into politics

To bring together all the actors engaged around the reuse of packaging. a ridge association will be created in early September in Bienne.

At the Confederation level, the prescription on drinking packaging (OEB) will be replaced by a new revised and corrected version. It will also take up the elements of the order on the limitation and elimination of waste (OLED).

It will therefore apply to all packaging. and no longer only those for drinks, which represent only a quarter of the packaging in Switzerland. She is currently in consultation.

In entering the Global