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Recycling Tin and Glass Packaging Products

Out of all the packaging materials currently used for cosmetics, food, and other products, glass bottles and tin packaging are among the most sustainable materials because of their recyclability. However, these containers must be cleaned and prepared properly before being recycled. Learn more about what makes glass and tin recyclable, as well as how to recycle these materials properly.

Tin Recycling

Tin is a popular packaging material for several reasons. As a substrate, tin is lightweight, highly corrosion-resistant with the right coating, and malleable under specific conditions. As a result, many premium brands use tin materials for secondary packaging applications. Tin product packaging can feature various print designs with finishes such as debossing and embossing.

What makes tin a popular form of sustainable packaging is the fact that it is 100% recyclable, capable of being processed and reintroduced to the production cycle without compromising quality. Today, countries all over the world have a 90% or higher tin recycling rate, speaking to the inherent recyclability and economic value of tin materials.

When using tin to coat other types of metals, it’s still possible to melt the tin and reform it several times when recycling the material. Its magnetic nature also makes it easy to remove from waste streams for reuse. Manufacturers or scrap processing companies may also recover and reuse tin from residues and scrap, reforming them into tin alloys or pure tin ingots.

Ultimately, many brands benefit from using tin to optimize sustainability while maintaining their packaging’s high-quality appearance and feel.

How to Recycle Tin

Companies can recycle tin by taking the following steps:

• Ensure no cans contain any food or liquid. This is possible by thoroughly rinsing tin containers and lids once empty.
• Remove any lids entirely and place them inside the container.

Glass Recycling

Like tin, glass is completely recyclable without losing purity or quality when recycled. Glass consists of many sustainable domestic materials, including soda ash, sand, limestone, and recycled glass called cullet.

According to data from Keep America Beautiful, recycling one ton of glass saves over a ton of raw materials and natural resources. These materials include about 410 pounds of soda ash, 1,300 pounds of sand, 160 pounds of feldspar, and 380 pounds of limestone. Since recycled glass always factors into the creation of new glass, using recycled glass can lower costs in the long term because it decreases use of new resources and energy demand in the furnace. In turn, glass manufacturers save more money on production while contributing to global sustainability efforts.

Manufacturers consistently need high-quality recycled glass to help meet the ever-increasing demand for new glass packaging materials.

How to Recycle Glass

Recycling cosmetic bottles, food product containers, and other glass packaging items must be done properly. Follow these steps:

1. Remove all lids or closures from the glass container, including any caps or corks.
2. Rinse the container thoroughly prior to recycling, which will help minimize odors and contamination.
3. Remove all labels on glass materials. While the recycling process often burns off the labels, removing them beforehand will help keep the glass clean while reducing emissions.
4. The glass goes to a processor, where it is cleaned, sorted, and crushed.
5. The processor converts the crushed glass into furnace-ready cullet that manufacturers can then purchase for use in the production of new glass products.

Tin and Glass Packaging From E2Global

Tin and glass are some of the most sustainable packaging materials on the market today. At E2Global, we work to provide our customers with sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions, including tin, glass, and other materials that contribute to a better environment while reducing manufacturing costs. Whether you need bottle manufacturing, tin products, or other solutions for your application, we’re here to meet your requirements.

Contact us today to learn more about our packaging solutions and how we can help your business with top-quality sustainable products.