René Muschter
Research Expert für Internationale Länderdaten
Glass industry worldwide - statistics & facts
Glass is a (usually) transparent, non-crystalline amorphous solid that has many important applications in a variety of industries worldwide. Today, glass is known for its extensive use in windows and bottles. The most common types of glass are made primarily with soda ash and silica, as well as other additives. Recycled glass is also often used in the production of new glass.
In 2024, the production volume of glass bottles and containers amounted to an estimated 830 billion units worldwide. Due to the extremely high temperatures required to produce glass, glass manufacturing overall has a high carbon footprint. In 2022, the global carbon dioxide emissions from glass manufacturing amounted to 95 million metric tons.
The growth of the glass industry can be largely attributed to its popularity as a sustainable packaging solution.
Glass manufacturing and emissions
There are two main methods of producing glass. The first is the float glass process that is used to manufacture architectural glass, and the second is the glassblowing process that produces containers such as bottles and jars. The float glass process, also known as the Pilkington process, was developed by Sir Pilkington in 1952, and involves feeding a ribbon of molten glass from a furnace onto a bath of molten tin. This process produces a sheet of glass with a uniform thickness and a very smooth surface, which can be used to make windows and any other applications requiring flat sheets of glass. China is by far the largest exporter of float glass, accounting for a 13 percent share of the global export value in 2023.In 2024, the production volume of glass bottles and containers amounted to an estimated 830 billion units worldwide. Due to the extremely high temperatures required to produce glass, glass manufacturing overall has a high carbon footprint. In 2022, the global carbon dioxide emissions from glass manufacturing amounted to 95 million metric tons.
Recycled glass market
The recycled glass industry is continuously growing. As an infinitely recyclable, reusable, and more sustainable alternative to plastic packaging, glass is regaining some of its popularity in the packaging world, especially as many countries have placed bans and limitations on plastic packaging in recent years. In 2024, the global recycled glass market was valued at 4.27 billion U.S. dollars. Europe accounted for the largest market share of recycled glass that year.The growth of the glass industry can be largely attributed to its popularity as a sustainable packaging solution.
