Long-Term Sustainability from the Perspective of Cullet Recycling in the Container Glass Industry: Evidence from Italy

Mario Testa, Ornella Malandrino, Maria Rosaria Sessa, Stefania Supino and Daniela Sica
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Mario Testa: Department of Business Sciences-Management and Innovation Systems (DISA-MIS), University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Ornella Malandrino: Department of Business Sciences-Management and Innovation Systems (DISA-MIS), University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Maria Rosaria Sessa: Department of Business Sciences-Management and Innovation Systems (DISA-MIS), University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy
Stefania Supino: Department of Human Science and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele University, 00166 Rome, Italy
Daniela Sica: Department of Business Sciences-Management and Innovation Systems (DISA-MIS), University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Glass manufacturing is a high-volume process, during which large substance quantities are transformed into commercial products, and significant amounts of non-renewable resources and energy (i.e., thermal fuels and electrical power) are consumed. The main purpose of this study is to give a critical explanation of the performance of the Italian container glass industry from the perspective of cullet being recycled, to outline the opportunities for transition towards circular business models that stimulate innovation in new sectors based on reverse-cycle activities for recycling. In 2015, disparate performances have been achieved as regards the container glass recycling rate in northern, central, and southern Italy, accounting for around 73%, 64%, and 55%, respectively. In fact, only northern Italy is in line with European targets, as by 2025 it will only need to increase its current performance by two percentage points, unlike central and southern Italy that will have to increase performance by, respectively, 11% and 20%. This shows a need to improve the efficiency of municipal waste collection systems in central and southern Italy, where undifferentiated waste still holds appreciable amounts of glass. Consequently, we propose several improvement channels, from the revision of waste legislation to the re-engineering of waste management supply chains.

Keywords: container glass industry; cullet recycling; circular economy; Italy; solid waste management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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