Visy, a glass manufacturer, has incorporated an average of 70% recycled glass into its production of bottles and jars.
This accomplishment is claimed to be a first for the country.
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Annually, Visy produces in excess of 700 million glass containers to supply New Zealand’s wine industry, as well as various local food and beverage enterprises.
Visy CEO Mark De Wit said: “New Zealand makes some of the best wine in the world, it deserves the best bottles.
“New Zealand wineries, and food and beverage businesses can now claim some of the most sustainable glass packaging in the world, thanks to New Zealand’s green electricity grid and our high recycled content.
“Together, we are showing the world that New Zealand is home to high-quality, highly sustainable, premium products.”
Visy collects used glass from 50 municipal councils throughout the country and recycles it at its Auckland facility, transforming it into new bottles and jars.
This process ensures a steady domestic supply chain that keeps local businesses supplied with packaging materials for both local retail needs and exports.
In New Zealand, most people sort their glass waste by colour for recycling collection, contributing to higher recovery rates of glass materials.
This system reportedly plays a crucial role for Visy to achieve its goal of 70% recycled content.
In addition to diverting waste from landfills, recycling conserves natural resources and decreases energy consumption during the remanufacturing process.
Glass containers produced by Visy can result in up to 30% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to those made without any recycled material, according to the company.
In July last year, Visy commissioned its new A$150m ($100m) sustainable glass furnace at its facility in Sydney, Australia.
