US-based glass bottles producer Owens-Illinois (O-I) and glass processing technology provider eCullet have jointly opened a new recycled glass processing facility, the Glass to Glass, in Portland.
The Glass to Glass facility will use latest technology and equipment to make more recycled glass available for the production of sustainable glass bottles and jars.
The facility will process recycled glass from countries such as Washington and supply it to the O-I Portland plant so that it can be re-introduced into the manufacturing process.
O-I Portland plant manager Pedro Tchmola said the company is pleased to partner with eCullet on the new facility.
"Using recycled glass in our manufacturing process is important to O-I's sustainability efforts. This new facility will help us to reduce our use of virgin raw materials, lowering our overall environmental impact," Tchmola added.
According to the company, every 10% of recycled glass used in the manufacturing process minimizes energy costs by 2% to 3% and greenhouse gas emissions by 4% to 10%.
The company opened the new plant in Portland following the steady supply of quality recycled glass available through the Oregon Container Deposit Program.
The new Portland plant is expected to produce over one million bottles per day including the beer bottles for local microbreweries.
