O-I partners with California-based eCullet to form Glass to Glass JV, will invest in glass sorting equipment to make more high-quality recycled glass for use in O-I plants; increasing use of recycled glass will reduce carbon footprint, O-I says

Andrew Rogers

PERRYSBURG, Ohio , March 7, 2013 (press release) – Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) announces that it is teaming with Palo Alto, Calif., based eCullet, Inc. to form a new joint venture called Glass to Glass LLC. This joint venture will invest in sophisticated glass sorting equipment that will make more high-quality recycled glass available for use in O-I plants.

“We are encouraged by the formation of this joint venture, as we believe we can improve the supply of recycled glass to our North American plants,” said Jay Scripter, vice president of regional integrated operations for O-I’s North American operations. Using recycled glass in the glass manufacturing process allows the company to reduce its use of virgin raw materials, thereby lowering its overall environmental imprint.

Much of the recycled glass collected in North America comes from single stream recycling, which mixes paper, metal, plastic and glass. This collection process often results in glass that is too contaminated to be successfully re-introduced into the manufacturing process. Improved sorting techniques will increase the amount of usable glass available to O-I.

“We are pleased to work with the world's largest glass container manufacturer to provide high quality, recycled glass to its plants,” said Craig London, eCullet CEO. “Glass recycling in the United States is increasing, but much of that supply requires sophisticated sorting technologies to create the quality of recycled glass required by glass manufacturers. That is our specialty and we look forward to helping Owens-Illinois use more recycled glass in its manufacturing process.”

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About O-I
Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) is the world's largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world's leading food and beverage brands. With revenues of $7.0 billion in 2012, the Company is headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA, and employs approximately 22,500 people at 79 plants in 21 countries. O-I delivers safe, sustainable, pure, iconic, brand-building glass packaging to a growing global marketplace. O-I's Glass Is Life(TM) movement promotes the widespread benefits of glass packaging in key markets around the globe. For more information, visit www.o-i.com or www.glassislife.com.

About eCullet
eCullet Inc. is a technology-based glass processing company with corporate headquarters in Palo Alto, California. The company utilizes its proprietary technology to produce the highest quality, color-sorted, contaminant-free, furnace-ready cullet which it supplies to the glass container manufacturing industry. Through its collaborative partnerships, eCullet helps glass container manufacturers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease energy consumption and preserve natural resources while helping recyclers divert glass residue away from the landfill. As an environmental technology company, eCullet takes great pride in knowing that its role in the glass container manufacturing cycle contributes to a sustainable planet.

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