Bulgarian Glass Value Chain Unites as Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria Officially Launches

Bulgaria’s glass packaging value chain has officially come together in Sofia to launch Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria, establishing the fifteenth national platform within the European partnership. Designed to accelerate glass collection and recycling while strengthening cooperation across the entire value chain, the initiative builds on Bulgaria’s 84% collection-for-recycling rate recorded in 2024 to support the European Union’s shared target of 90% by 2030.

In short: Launched in Sofia on 16 September 2026, Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria unites the country’s entire glass packaging value chain—from glass manufacturers and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisations to municipalities and the hospitality sector—as the 15th national platform of the European partnership. Building on Bulgaria’s strong foundation of an 84% glass packaging collection-for-recycling rate recorded in 2024, the platform aims to accelerate progress toward the European Union’s shared 90% collection target by 2030 for an infinite bottle-to-bottle loop.

Coordinated by ECOBULPACK Bulgaria and supported by BA Glass, which operates two glass packaging production facilities in the country, the initiative follows an international workshop in Sofia attended by more than 50 experts and decision-makers to develop a national Action Plan focused on expanding separate collection, improving data monitoring, and unlocking additional glass recycling potential.

Establishing Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria Across the Value Chain

On 16 September 2026 in Sofia, stakeholders across Bulgaria’s glass packaging sector united to establish Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria, according to the official announcement published on 17 September 2026. The new national platform is specifically designed to accelerate glass collection and recycling and to reinforce collaboration across the entire glass packaging value chain.

Under a common operational framework, the initiative brings together Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisations, glass manufacturers and recyclers, waste management operators, municipalities, as well as brands and fillers. The overarching objective of this alignment is to improve glass packaging circularity and support the country’s transition towards a more resource-efficient economy.

As Bulgaria continues to advance its national waste management and circular economy agenda while implementing European targets on packaging waste prevention, separate glass collection, and recycling, the newly launched platform will serve as a catalyst for coordinated action, knowledge-sharing, and innovation across the sector.

More Than 50 Experts Convene in Sofia to Shape the National Action Plan

The official establishment of the platform followed the international workshop titled “Towards a Close the Glass Loop Action Plan for Bulgaria”, held in Sofia on 16 September 2026. The event was co-organised by Close the Glass Loop, ECOBULPACK Bulgaria, and BA Glass Bulgaria. It brought together more than 50 experts and decision-makers from across the glass packaging value chain to identify key priorities and practical opportunities for improving glass collection and recycling performance.

During the Sofia workshop, participants highlighted several core areas requiring coordinated attention:

• the need to expand and optimise separate collection systems,

• strengthening cooperation between municipalities and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisations,

• improving monitoring and data collection processes,

• increasing citizen engagement in separate glass collection,

• unlocking additional glass collection opportunities from the hospitality sector.

In addition to domestic operational priorities, participants explored the implications of new European packaging legislation and exchanged best practices from across Europe. Building directly on these discussions, the newly established platform will develop a dedicated national Close the Glass Loop Action Plan for Bulgaria.

Building on an 84% Collection Rate to Enhance Quality and Local Manufacturing

Georgi Slavchev, Procurator of ECOBULPACK—which serves as the coordinator of the initiative—pointed out that Bulgaria already possesses a strong foundation, with 84% of glass packaging waste collected for recycling according to Close the Glass Loop data for 2024.

Slavchev noted that through Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria, stakeholders have an opportunity to unite around a shared roadmap, strengthen mutual cooperation, and identify practical solutions that further improve both the overall efficiency of the collection system and the quality of the glass collected for recycling.

From the manufacturing perspective, BA Glass—which operates two glass packaging production facilities in Bulgaria—is actively supporting the national platform as part of the broader European partnership driving glass circularity. Marco Marques, Managing Director South-East Europe at BA Glass, emphasised that every bottle collected for recycling represents a valuable resource for Bulgaria’s glass industry.

He explained that increasing the collection of high-quality recycled glass enables the production of new glass packaging with a lower carbon footprint while simultaneously reducing dependence on virgin raw materials. Marques added that working together across the value chain can strengthen Bulgaria’s circular economy, support local manufacturing, and unlock the full potential of glass recycling, describing the new national platform as an important milestone in that journey.

Bulgaria Joins as the 15th National Platform Toward the 90% EU Target by 2030

The launch of the Bulgarian platform marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration aimed at identifying system gaps, aligning stakeholder priorities, and driving measurable improvements in glass collection and recycling. Through this framework, Bulgarian partners gain access to the expertise, tools, and best practices developed across the European Close the Glass Loop network, helping to accelerate national progress toward higher collection rates and greater circularity.

Speaking on behalf of the Close the Glass Loop partners, Vanessa Chesnot, Head of Public Affairs & Product Policy at FEVE (the European Container Glass Federation), welcomed Bulgaria as the 15th national Close the Glass Loop platform. She stressed that national action is where real progress happens, noting that by working together, sharing experience, and learning from one another, European partners can move closer to their shared ambition of achieving a 90% glass packaging collection-for-recycling rate across the European Union by 2030.

Headquartered in Brussels (Avenue Louise 89, Bte 4, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, c/o FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation), Close the Glass Loop is a European partnership uniting glass producers, brands and fillers, Extended Producer Responsibility organisations, glass cullet recycling facilities, municipalities, and the hospitality sector. Its core vision is to achieve the 90% collection-for-recycling rate in the EU by 2030 so that more recycled glass can be utilised in new glass packaging in an infinite bottle-to-bottle loop. Coordinated at the European level by Jean-Paul Judson and supported in communications at the national level by Petya Radeva, Public Relations Manager at ECOBULPACK Bulgaria, the network facilitates ongoing cooperation on collection, recycling, communication, and circular solutions across Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria and when was it launched?

Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria is a national platform launched in Sofia on 16 September 2026 by Bulgaria’s glass packaging value chain to accelerate glass collection and recycling and strengthen collaboration across all industry stakeholders.

What is Bulgaria’s glass packaging collection rate according to the source data?

According to Close the Glass Loop data for 2024, 84% of glass packaging waste in Bulgaria is collected for recycling.

How many national platforms are in Close the Glass Loop, and what is the 2030 EU target?

Bulgaria is the 15th national platform to join Close the Glass Loop, supporting the partnership’s shared ambition to achieve a 90% glass packaging collection-for-recycling rate across the European Union by 2030.

Who organised the Sofia workshop and how many participants attended?

The international workshop “Towards a Close the Glass Loop Action Plan for Bulgaria”, held in Sofia on 16 September 2026, was co-organised by Close the Glass Loop, ECOBULPACK Bulgaria, and BA Glass Bulgaria (which operates two production facilities in Bulgaria), bringing together more than 50 experts and decision-makers.

Which stakeholders are represented within the Close the Glass Loop framework?

The platform unites Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisations, glass producers and manufacturers, glass cullet recycling facilities, waste management operators, municipalities, brands and fillers, and the hospitality sector.