Analysis of the Material Structure Evaluation Status by Industry and Release Type of Glass Bottle Packaging Materials

To enhance the recycling of packaging materials, a system was implemented to evaluate the material and structural aspects of packaging. However, it is challenging to determine why this improvement does not yield the desired results. Therefore, this study utilized the evaluation results of glass bottle materials and structures to reclassify products and companies by industry and category. It analyzed the materials and structures that pose recycling challenges and identified their underlying causes. Industries were classified into food manufacturing (C10), beverage manufacturing (C11), chemicals and chemical products manufacturing (C20), pharmaceutical manufacturing (C21), wholesale and intermediary trade (G46), and retail trade (G47). The products were categorized into cosmetics, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, and food products for analysis. The analysis revealed that the wholesale and intermediary trade industry significantly contributes to the challenges in glass bottle recycling. Moreover, when considering the impact based on the release form, products such as manufactured/imported cosmetics, imported alcoholic beverages, manufactured pharmaceuticals, and imported food products exert a notable influence. Therefore, there is a pressing need for systemic incentives, both technical and policy-driven, and efforts from companies to address material and structural challenges, particularly targeting the wholesale and intermediary trade industry and the aforementioned products.