For the first time in New Zealand, the country’s only glass manufacturer, Visy, has achieved an average of 70 per cent recycled glass content in its locally-made bottles and jars in 2024.
New Zealand is the first country Visy operates in to achieve this benchmark. Currently, the company manufactures over 700 million glass bottles and jars for the country’s wineries and local food and beverage companies each year.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon celebrated the milestone this week with food and beverage companies at Visy’s Auckland glass manufacturing site.
“Visy is proud to be making glass locally for iconic Kiwi brands – New Zealand makes some of the best wine in the world, and it deserves the best bottles,” said Mark De Wit, CEO of Visy.
“New Zealand wineries, and food and beverage businesses can now claim some of the most sustainable glass packaging in the world, thanks to the country's green electricity grid and our high recycled content.
“Together, we are showing the world that New Zealand is home to high quality, highly sustainable, premium products.”
Visy recycles glass from 50 councils across the country and remanufactures it into new bottles and jars at its factory in Auckland.
Most New Zealanders colour sort their glass containers at the kerb, ready for pick up and recycling.
This best-in-class recycling collection has led to higher glass recovery, helping Visy reach its 70 per cent recycled glass content target. It has been working towards the target since 2021.
According to Visy, its glass containers with 70 per cent recycled content can be up to 30 per cent less greenhouse gas intensive compared to glass containers with no recycled content.
