Reusable glass bottles: A sustainable step towards CO2 reduction

The industrial cleaning of reusable glass bottles is one of the most effective measures for significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Compared to the production of new glass bottles, up to 85% of CO2 can be saved by washing bottles. But what does this mean in concrete terms and what positive effects does it have on the environment?

CO2 savings in figures: An impressive example

Imagine a company washes 250,000 bottles per year. The production of a new bottle generates around 0.5 kg of CO2, but by washing these bottles, 85% of these emissions are avoided. This means that 0.425 kg of CO2 is saved per bottle – an impressive total of 106.25 tonnes of CO2 per year.

This saving can be visualised in a variety of tangible ways:

• 885,417 kilometres of driving: The CO2 saved by washing bottles is equivalent to the emissions from a car journey of almost 22 times round the world.
• 118 households with electricity: The amount of CO2 saved is equivalent to the electricity consumption of around 118 European households for a whole year.
• 53 transatlantic flights: This saving is comparable to the emissions of 53 return flights between Frankfurt and New York per person.

Reusable glass bottles – experience report from the Artisans Vignerons d’Yvorne with Christophe Echenard

Even if you don’t wash all your bottles, you can actively contribute to sustainability by striking a balance between buying new glass and using washed glass. An impressive example of this is provided by the Artisans Vignerons d’Yvorne, who show how effective this approach can be.

An ecological and economic gain

The industrial washing of reusable glass bottles not only offers ecological benefits, but also makes economic sense. Companies that choose to wash their bottles actively contribute to reducing their carbon footprint while saving on material costs that would be incurred in new production.

In addition, bottle washing reduces the need for new raw materials such as sand and soda, which are required for glass production. This conserves valuable natural resources and reduces the energy required to extract and process these materials.

Industrial bottle washing as a sustainable solution

Univerre, the undisputed leader in industrial bottle washing in Switzerland since 1987, offers a unique service with an impressive capacity of 24 million bottles per year. 

Our state-of-the-art washing centre, strategically located in the heart of the canton of Valais, guarantees precise control of every step of the process – from delivery to flawless cleaning. 

In order to constantly respond to the changing needs of our customers, we have reorganised the returnable glass bottle system, which offers increased flexibility and efficiency throughout the entire cleaning process. With Univerre, you can rely on sustainability and the highest quality.