New Guidelines for Glass Recycling – What Are the Implications for Product Decoration?
With the publication of their new Guide to Design for Good Recycling in Glass, the BDE (Federal Association of German Waste Management, Water and Recycling Industries) and the bvse (Federal Association of Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management) provide practical recommendations to maximise the recyclability of glass packaging.
The aim is clear: strengthen circularity, improve the quality of glass recyclate and align with European initiatives such as the Green Deal and upcoming sustainability classifications for packaging licensing. While published for the German market, the guidance is highly relevant for glass recycling in general.
Filmic Labels in the Green Zone
A major outcome is that filmic labels are listed in the “green” category alongside paper labels – provided that easily releasable adhesives are used.
This is excellent news for brand owners, as it means filmic PSL solutions can be applied without restrictions if the right adhesive is chosen.
We are prepared to support you with EcoShear, this Pressure Sensitive Label construction is designed specifically for one-way glass containers, combining premium on-shelf performance with optimal recyclability.
Sleeves Remain in the Green Zone
Shrink Sleeves are also confirmed in the green column of the guideline, with the clear recommendation to include perforations. This makes sleeves easy to separate from the bottle before or during recycling – and at the same time opens up valuable design opportunities. With decades of expertise, CCL Label offers a wide range of perforation options, from standard to customised solutions. These can even double as interactive marketing elements, while perforations over the closure provide an additional benefit as a reliable tamper-evident feature.
The positive news: there are no restrictions regarding sleeve size, allowing brands to continue using full-body decoration to maximise shelf appeal while meeting recyclability requirements.
Aluminium Foil Necks Discouraged – Alternatives Available
The guidelines explicitly list aluminium roll-on foils among the materials that disturb the recycling process. They can lead to contamination, colour shifts and production issues in the glass furnace.
CCL offers proven alternatives that visually match foil necks thanks to metallised material, printed metallics and/or hammer blow effects:
- EcoShear Labels for one-way bottles
- WashOff Labels for returnable bottles
What This Means for Brand Owners
The guidelines clearly show that sustainable packaging design and premium brand presentation are not mutually exclusive. With CCL’s innovative label solutions our customers are already equipped to meet and exceed these new recyclability standards.
Together, we make glass packaging future-ready: fully recyclable, legally compliant and visually outstanding.Time to act sustainably. Time to Stand Out.
30.09.2025
