Analysis of the industrial and circular economy model for recycled glass in Tuscany. The case of Vetro Revet

Title Analysis of the industrial and circular economy model for recycled glass in Tuscany. The case of Vetro Revet

Location Tuscany

Duration March– April 2025

Funding Alia Servizi Ambientali 

 

Context

Glass is a material that epitomises the circular economy: as well as being a highly recyclable inert material, it can be reused numerous times without losing its intrinsic properties, resulting in a reduction of up to 60% in CO₂ emissions and 25–30% in energy consumption compared to production from virgin raw materials.

In Tuscany, the long tradition of glassmaking has given rise to an industrial model for glass recycling recognised as a national best practice, based on a short supply chain and strong integration between separate collection and the glass industry. At the heart of this system lies Vetro Revet in Empoli, born from the collaboration between Zignago Vetro Spa and REVET Spa.

 

General Objective

The Circular Innovation & Sustainable Commodities Unit was involved in the project to analyse and describe the Tuscan glass recycling model with the aim of:

  • highlighting the technical, organisational and economic drivers underpinning its effectiveness;
  • quantifying the environmental, economic and regional benefits generated by the model;
  • identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats through a SWOT analysis;
  • assess the model’s replicability in other regional contexts and its contribution to the transition towards a circular economy in the packaging sector.

 

Our contribution

For the project on the industrial and circular economy model for recycled glass in Tuscany, the research group carried out the following activities:

  • Analysis of the Tuscan glass recycling model, with particular reference to the Vetro Revet case, tracing the historical, regulatory, organisational and industrial evolution of the regional supply chain.
  • Mapping of the glass supply chain, from separate collection to treatment and reintroduction of the material into the production cycle (End of Waste – ‘Ready for the Furnace’).
  • Study of the model’s key success factors (key drivers), with a focus on market-oriented strategy and cross-sectoral integration
  • Analysis of environmental performance and assessment of economic and territorial benefits, in terms of the valorisation of collected material and the maintenance of economic value within the region
  • Application of the SWOT methodology to identify strengths, weaknesses and the potential for replicating the model in other regions.

 

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