RODIV2050: The Decarbonisation Roadmap for Portugal’s Glass Packaging Sector
The Portuguese glass packaging industry is making bold strides toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Led by AIVE (Association of Glass Packaging Manufacturers), the RODIV2050 – Glass Packaging Decarbonisation Roadmap outlines a clear strategy to transform the sector through innovation, sustainability, and energy efficiency.
🔥 Technological Innovation: The Furnaces of the Future
A key breakthrough comes with the “Furnaces of the Future”, designed to reduce direct CO₂ emissions by up to 60% by replacing fossil fuels with green electricity, biomass, and hydrogen. These technologies mark a new era of low-carbon glass manufacturing.
♻️ Recycling and Circularity
Recycled glass plays a central role:
- One ton of recycled glass saves 1.2 tons of virgin raw materials
- Energy savings of about 3% for every 10% of recycled glass used
The industry is targeting a 90% collection rate for used glass packaging by 2030, closing the loop and promoting a fully circular economy.
📦 Lightweight Packaging
Packaging is now 30% lighter than 50 years ago, significantly reducing emissions in both transport and production.
👥 Training and Monitoring
AIVE leads awareness and training efforts, sharing best practices and monitoring progress to engage the entire supply chain in this transition.
💰 Funding and Research
An initial €500,000 investment, co-funded by Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), is supporting this roadmap. Continued public support and investment in R&D are critical to achieving the sector’s Net Zero goals.
⚠️ Main Challenges
- High costs of implementing green technologies like hydrogen
- Structural changes required in existing factories
- Improving glass collection rates through industry and public cooperation
🚀 Got a project that supports the journey to Net Zero by 2050?
If you’re developing a sustainable solution and need funding to grow, let’s talk:
📧 comercial@theventurebuilder.pt