Belarus. Glass is in short supply

Recycling of cullet, reuse and release of lightweight glass containers are becoming especially relevant against the background of an increasing shortage of glass containers.

The shortage of glass containers in the country, including the lack of packaging in adjacent markets, will increase due to the fact that beverage manufacturers will soon come to the widespread use of environmentally friendly glass containers.

“The production capacities of the Grodno glass factory together with the Elizovo branch amount to 400 tons of glass mass per day. This is about 950 thousand half-liter products. However, even taking into account the production capacities of other enterprises in Belarus, there is a shortage of glass containers, mostly colorless, ”said marketing manager of Grodno Glassworks Evgeny Lyantsevich to BR. The situation can improve the increase in turnover of glass containers, as well as reducing its weight.

According to the representative of the Grodno Glassworks, the turnover of glass containers is divided into two areas: the processing of cullet for the production of new products (cans, bottles and other utensils) and the reuse of materials after disinfection. The first direction is effective in terms of not only reducing costs, but also reducing the consumption of natural resources. Each ton of recycled cullet saves about 1.2 tons of raw materials, which also contributes to import substitution. Only transportation and sorting of colored and transparent glass can be difficult.

“A cullet processing line operates at our enterprise. We carry out an advertising campaign in various cities of Belarus. We constantly place social advertisements in the media and social networks about the benefits of collecting and recycling used glass packaging, ”said Mikhail Pavlyukevich, head of the compound workshop at Grodno Glassworks OJSC.

An advantage of the second direction is also environmental friendliness. However, in accordance with it, organizing the collection and processing of containers in the country is not so simple. This is due to the fact that manufacturers of alcoholic beverages try to stand out and protect the market from counterfeit goods, as a result, they use exclusive bottles.

“Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled as much as you like. Each new bottle produced by our enterprise consists of 40–70% recycled cullet. The system for collecting and processing glass containers works well in Belarus; it is oriented not to multi-use containers, but to deep glass processing, ”said a representative of Grodno Glassworks OJSC.

He recalled that by including the collateral value of the bottle in the price of the product for the final consumer, the state plans to return up to 80-85% of the glass containers of the total consumption.

The production of lightweight glass containers is another way to save resources while avoiding PET in the production of low- and non-alcoholic drinks. The weight of such packaging is 15-20% less than standard packaging. At the same time, its quality improves due to a more even distribution of glass. “Thanks to this, manufacturers and suppliers reduce logistics costs, increase the number of manufactured containers and consume less fuel and energy resources,” explained Vladimir Belousov, Deputy General Director for Sales.

“A cullet processing line operates at our enterprise. We carry out an advertising campaign in various cities of Belarus. We constantly place social advertisements in the media and social networks about the benefits of collecting and recycling used glass packaging, ”said Mikhail Pavlyukevich, head of the compound workshop at Grodno Glassworks OJSC.

An advantage of the second direction is also environmental friendliness. However, in accordance with it, organizing the collection and processing of containers in the country is not so simple. This is due to the fact that manufacturers of alcoholic beverages try to stand out and protect the market from counterfeit goods, as a result, they use exclusive bottles.

“Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled as much as you like. Each new bottle produced by our enterprise consists of 40–70% recycled cullet. The system for collecting and processing glass containers works well in Belarus; it is oriented not to multi-use containers, but to deep glass processing, ”said a representative of Grodno Glassworks OJSC.

He recalled that by including the collateral value of the bottle in the price of the product for the final consumer, the state plans to return up to 80-85% of the glass containers of the total consumption.

The production of lightweight glass containers is another way to save resources while avoiding PET in the production of low- and non-alcoholic drinks. The weight of such packaging is 15-20% less than standard packaging. At the same time, its quality improves due to a more even distribution of glass. “Thanks to this, manufacturers and suppliers reduce logistics costs, increase the number of manufactured containers and consume less fuel and energy resources,” explained Vladimir Belousov, Deputy General Director for Sales.

For the enterprise, the production of lightweight glass containers is also a competitive advantage. Grodno Glassworks OJSC was the first in the country to launch the production of containers of this type. “Our company is aimed at increasing production volumes and improving the quality of finished products. At the factory in the village of Yelizovo, the modernization of one of the two main production lines for the production of glass containers was completed. It provides half of the marketable products of the enterprise. This has a positive effect on the economic condition of the plant, ”said Pavel Rodevich, Chief Technologist.

An important role for the successful operation of the enterprise is played by a flexible policy in relation to manufactured products, the source added. So, JSC "Grodno Glassworks" can quickly change the range of products. In addition, this is the only enterprise in the country that produces glass containers in three colors.

Source: http://belmarket.by