⚖️🇪🇺 EU glass recycling standards threaten Italian bottles

Oneliner

Proposed EU glass recycling standards could classify traditional Italian bottles as non-recyclable, threatening the wine sector, particularly prosecco producers. Industry leaders argue that current optical sorting technologies can effectively recycle opaque glass, contradicting the proposed transmittance-based threshold. The outcome of ongoing discussions within EU institutions will significantly impact Italy's glass and wine industries.

Key points

• Proposed EU regulations could classify traditional Italian glass bottles as non-recyclable.
• The wine sector, particularly prosecco producers, may face significant economic impacts.
• Current optical sorting technologies can effectively recycle opaque glass, contrary to proposed standards.

Links

• ANSA: Coreve, 'i nuovi standard Ue sul riciclo del vetro discriminano le bottiglie italiane' - Finanza & Impresa
• ANSA: Coreve, 'i nuovi standard Ue sul riciclo del vetro discriminano le bottiglie italiane' - Notizie - Ansa.it

Facts

• Proposed EU regulations may classify traditional Italian glass bottles as non-recyclable.
• The wine sector, especially prosecco producers, could face severe economic impacts.
• Current optical sorting technologies can recycle opaque glass with transmittance as low as 2.5%.

Quotes

• If the European Commission were to decide to adopt these rules at EU level, the consequence would be that a bottle in which more than 30% by weight of the glass had a transmittance below 10% would be deemed entirely non-recyclable — Gianni Scotti

Article