Beer Glass (glass)

Material Composition Assumptions

A standard beer glass bottle weighing approximately 500 grams consists of the following materials:

• Silica sand (SiO2): 350g representing 70% of total weight as the primary glass-forming oxide
• Soda ash (Na2CO3): 75g representing 15% of total weight serving as a flux to lower melting temperature
• Limestone (CaCO3): 50g representing 10% of total weight acting as a stabilizer for chemical durability
• Recycled glass cullet: 25g representing 5% of total weight, though this varies significantly from 0-70% depending on regional recycling infrastructure and manufacturer practices

The relatively low recycled content assumption reflects global average conditions where many regions lack comprehensive glass collection and processing systems.

Manufacturing Geography

Glass bottle production occurs predominantly in China, Germany, and Italy, which collectively represent the largest centers of commercial glass container manufacturing. China dominates global production volume due to extensive industrial infrastructure and lower energy costs, while European facilities in Germany and Italy serve regional markets with higher recycled content integration.

The manufacturing process requires intensive thermal energy for furnace operations, typically reaching temperatures of 1500-1600°C. Chinese facilities predominantly rely on coal-fired electricity generation, resulting in higher carbon intensity compared to European operations that increasingly utilize renewable energy sources and established circular economy practices.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	543 kgCO2e/MWh	67	Baseline
Germany	366 kgCO2e/MWh	58	-13%
Italy	257 kgCO2e/MWh	51	-24%
India	708 kgCO2e/MWh	78	+16%
United States	386 kgCO2e/MWh	60	-10%

Provenance Override Guidance

Suppliers can submit the following data types to override the default emissions score:

1. Verified recycled glass content percentage with third-party certification demonstrating actual cullet utilization rates in production
2. Manufacturing facility energy source documentation including renewable electricity procurement agreements and natural gas consumption data
3. Transportation distance and mode specifications from raw material suppliers to manufacturing facility and from facility to packaging location
4. Detailed material composition analysis showing exact proportions of silica, soda ash, limestone, and any alternative raw materials used
5. Glass furnace efficiency ratings and thermal energy consumption per unit output with supporting operational data

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions for a single 500ml non-returnable glass beer bottle including raw material extraction, manufacturing, and delivery to packaging facility
• Scope 3 dominates the emissions profile due to energy-intensive upstream glass production processes and raw material processing requirements
• Functional unit assumes standard amber-colored glass bottle suitable for carbonated beverages with typical wall thickness and closure compatibility
• End-of-life recycling benefits are excluded from this assessment as they depend on regional waste management infrastructure availability
• Significant data gaps exist regarding furnace efficiency variations between facilities and actual recycled content utilization rates across different manufacturing regions