Glass Tumbler

Material Composition Assumptions

A standard glass tumbler weighing approximately 200 grams consists primarily of soda lime silicate glass as the base material. The manufacturing process typically incorporates recycled cullet glass content ranging from 20-30% of the total weight, equivalent to 40-60 grams per tumbler. The remaining 140-160 grams derive from virgin raw materials including silica sand, sodium carbonate, and limestone. This recycled content assumption reflects industry standard practices for container glass production where cullet availability supports meaningful incorporation rates.

Manufacturing Geography

Glass tumbler production concentrates heavily in China, which dominates global glass manufacturing capacity through established industrial infrastructure and raw material access. Chinese glass facilities operate on an electricity grid with an average carbon intensity of 555 gCO2e per kilowatt-hour, reflecting the country’s continued reliance on coal-fired power generation. This manufacturing location choice stems from economies of scale, integrated supply chains for raw materials, and established export logistics networks that serve global markets efficiently despite transportation emissions.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2e/kWh	0.25	Baseline
European Union	275 gCO2e/kWh	0.22	-14% lower
United States	386 gCO2e/kWh	0.23	-8% lower
India	708 gCO2e/kWh	0.28	+12% higher
Turkey	394 gCO2e/kWh	0.24	-4% lower

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Furnace energy consumption data in kilowatt-hours per ton of glass produced, including fuel type specifications for melting operations.

2. Recycled cullet content percentage by weight with third-party verification documentation showing actual incorporation rates versus virgin materials.

3. Transportation distance and mode specifications from manufacturing facility to final distribution point, including packaging weight and materials.

4. Regional electricity grid carbon intensity factors specific to the manufacturing facility location with monthly or annual averaging periods.

5. End-of-life processing assumptions including local recycling infrastructure availability and collection rate data for the target market region.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-grave emissions for a single-use glass tumbler including manufacturing, transportation, use phase, and end-of-life processing.
• Scope 1 emissions dominate due to high-temperature furnace operations requiring substantial direct fuel combustion for melting raw materials.
• Scope 3 emissions include both upstream material extraction impacts and downstream transportation plus use phase considerations.
• The functional unit assumes standard drinking glass dimensions with 200-250ml capacity and approximately 200 gram weight.
• Excluded impacts include facility construction, administrative operations, and packaging materials beyond primary product transportation.
• Data gaps exist around regional variation in recycling infrastructure effectiveness and actual consumer use patterns affecting total lifecycle impacts.