Glass should never be trash – that’s one of the takeaways Austin Stein, O-I plant manager at Danville, Virginia, shared during a virtual chat with the Beer Institute’s Jim McGreevy April 28. Stein spoke as part of the Beer Institute’s ongoing “You Ought to Know a Beer Industry Employee,” virtual series.
“O-I is one of the most important suppliers in the beer industry, giving us the beautiful bottles that breweries around the country put their product in,” McGreevy said as he introduced Stein and O-I Glass.
The Beer Institute is the Washington, DC-based national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. During the 40-minute virtual discussion, McGreevy asked Stein about an array of topics, from how glass bottles and jars are made to safety to O-I’s new Drinktainer™, a container that blends the sensory experience of glassware with the convenience of drinking straight from a glass bottle.
Glass’s role in the circular economy came up throughout the discussion. Stein shared that glass is infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be recycled over and over again without losing quality. And since recycled glass is a main ingredient glass makers use to create new glass bottles and jars, Stein stressed the value of recycling glass beer bottles.
“Glass should never be trash,” he said, reminding everyone of the value of recycling glass bottles.
Join us for a conversation with Austin Stein of @OI_Glass to learn how he runs a facility with nearly 150 employees that produces more than 1,000 beer bottles per minute. #BeersToThat https://t.co/g70ovj95yn
— Beer Institute (@beerinstitute) April 28, 2021
O-I has been a major employer and community contributor since the Danville plant opened in the mid ‘70s. Recently, plant and community leaders collaborated to setup a mobile vaccination unit to provide the community more access to the COVID-19 vaccine; anyone in the area could sign up, whether or not they worked for O-I.
Stein has worked at O-I Glass for nearly a decade, gaining experience at several North America plants before taking over the role of Danville plant manager in 2020. He graduated from Clemson with a degree in economics and business management.
For more than 100 years, our passionate glass makers have innovated and transformed the glass making industry. Our vision is to be the most innovative, sustainable, chosen supplier of brand-building packaging solutions. Read more about our history of innovation as well as our sustainability aspirations on our website.
