What a difference a few years can make! In 2020, O-I launched our first community glass recycling program in Perrysburg, Ohio, home to our Global Headquarters. Since then, our efforts have expanded and we now operate more than 20 glass recycling programs throughout the United States. These initiatives have sparked the enthusiasm and passion of communities and residents for glass recycling, leading to rapid growth in many of our programs.
This growth couldn’t be more timely, as O-I recently announced a bold new target: achieving an average of 60% recycled content in our packaging globally by 2030. Our community programs are a crucial part of our strategy to reach this ambitious goal.
These creative and effective community recycling ecosystems not only increase the availability of recycled glass (cullet) for manufacturing but also keep glass out of the landfills. With the support of our dedicated partners across the value chain, we are transforming the landscape of glass recycling in the U.S, one glass bottle at a time.
Recycling Glass Bottles for Good
Glass4Good™ is one of O-I’s most unique and successful glass recycling initiatives. By incentivizing glass recycling through quarterly donations to local charitable organizations based on the weight of recycled glass, we maximize the positive impact of each glass bottle.
The initiative allows O-I to give back to the communities where our employees live and work, while fostering our commitment to keeping glass out of the landfills. Residents can make a meaningful difference not only for the environment, but also in their communities simply by recycling glass.
In Danville, Virginia, for example, Glass4Good™ supports Third Chance Housing. Executive Director Shakeva Frazier summed it up perfectly when she asked, “If you don’t have a dollar, do you have a bottle?” That spirit—making small, everyday actions meaningful—is at the heart of Glass4Good™.
Currently, O-I has five active Glass4Good™ programs, each supporting one of our plant communities. Through this initiative, we’ve seen remarkable growth in glass collections, with a 47% increase in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. We achieved this growth by focusing on what works: education, outreach, and employee leadership.
With the help of our dedicated community partners, O-I has expanded recycling education to help more people understand the importance of glass recycling. We’ve created more opportunities for communities and residents to participate, and O-I employees stepped up to lead local initiatives and events that bring our mission to life.
Glass4Good™ has flourished because our people and our partners share our enthusiasm for glass recycling and social impact. Together, we can make a meaningful difference. To date, Glass4Good™ has recycled over 1,500 metric tons of glass, saving more than 1,740 tons of raw materials.
Building Local Glass Recycling Programs
We’ve learned that the most successful recycling programs are built locally. Each community has unique infrastructure, needs, and opportunities—and we tailor our approach accordingly.
Across the US, we’ve identified key areas and developed glass recycling “clusters.” These clusters are made up of groups of communities strategically located near glass processors and O-I facilities, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our programs.
These initiatives are made possible by O-I’s robust network of partners. We’ve collaborated with communities, customers, non-profits, and other entities to develop effective glass recycling solutions.
With their help, O-I currently supports 21 community recycling programs in the U.S., with four dozen glass collection sites in operation. In 2025 alone, our programs have recycled more than 400 metric tons of glass, equivalent to removing 30 passenger vehicles from the road in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. This material is transformed into new glass packaging at our manufacturing facilities and returns to the shelves as new glass bottles, sometimes in as little as 30 days.
O-I’s Aggressive Sustainability Goals
O-I is committed to achieving an average of 60% recycled content in our packaging by the end of this decade. Each of our community recycling programs brings us closer to reaching this ambitious goal. When O-I uses more recycled glass, we:
- Reduce energy consumption
- Extract and transport fewer raw materials
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Keep glass waste out of landfills
Our updated goals will also positively impact our customers. By aligning our ambitions with those of our customers, we demonstrate our commitment to supporting their sustainability objectives. This is sustainability in action.
Every bottle counts, every partnership matters, and every action brings us closer to building a truly circular glass economy. And it all starts with one bottle.
