Alternative fuels: Biomethane
Wiegand-Glas adds biomethane to the Eco2Bottle toolbox German glassmaker Wiegand-Glas recently partnered with biomethane producer bmp greengas for its customer soulproducts. Lukas Neubauer* discusses why the use of biomethane can play a part in the manufacture of a ‘greener’ glass bottle.
� The partnership with bmp greengas is part of Wiegand-Glas’ ‘Eco2Bottle toolbox’ which aims to make the company a more
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eusable glass packaging can be used around 50 times before it is melted down again and put to a new use. So glass fulfils the requirements of a circular economy in terms of reuse and recycling to the highest degree. Nevertheless, in many cases more can be done to improve the energy balance of glass containers. This is because glass production, from melting to forming and beyond, is an energy-intensive process that often makes use of natural gas. Wiegand-Glas has reacted and in doing so has also fulfilled the wish of soulproducts GmbH: the production of a product line with biomethane.
Wiegand-Glas launched the Eco2Bottle concept in 2020, sending a clear signal for environmental protection and resource conservation to the market and its customers. The concept envisages avoiding, reducing or compensating CO2 emissions in all production steps - together with food and beverage producers all the way to the consumer. “It all comes down to individual solutions,” says Lukas Neubauer, Head of Controlling & Corporate Development at WiegandGlas. “We look at each customer, each market and each product very closely, provide recommendations for the entire supply chain and then develop the
right packaging solution with the help of an optimally coordinated toolbox.” Consideration is given to power supply, recycling, the weight of the glass, further packaging, logistics and, of course, the energy needed for the production itself.
Eco2Bottle toolbox Already from the first Eco2Bottle, the 0.75 l. Bordeaux bottle, the possible measures for avoiding and reducing emissions are well known, which is why they are only briefly explained below. The electricity used, which comes from the normal Continued>>
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17 Glass International September 2021
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21/09/2021 06:20:49