Owens-Illinois becomes First Food & Beverage Packaging Company to Achieve Gold Rating for Material Health

MBDC is excited to share that Owens-Illinois (O-I) is the first food and beverage packaging company to achieve a Cradle to Cradle Certified™ GOLD rating in material health. O-I is the world’s largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world’s leading food and beverage brands. Nearly 90 percent of O-I’s glass operations were certified across product categories and for certain container colors in the beer, non-alcoholic beverage, spirit, wine, and food markets.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Owens-Illinois. It is a company taking innovation to the next level, seeking ways to partner with other industry leaders to incorporate more recycled content, maximize use of renewable energy, and consider the full use cycle of its glass products,” said Jay Bolus, President of Certification Services at MBDC. “The company’s continued pursuit of Cradle to Cradle certification signifies its brand quality and value for its consumers and the environment.”

The Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Products Program was originally created by MBDC in 2005, under guidance of the firm’s co-founder William McDonough, globally recognized architect and leader in sustainable development, to acknowledge high levels of sustainability being achieved by their clients, and to inspire others to innovate and “rethink the way they make things.” MBDC is the leading assessor for the program, working with globally recognized companies to assess, optimize and verify that their “goods” truly are good.

We evaluate products for material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social fairness. Certified products are expected to show continuous improvement every two years and we are committed to working with O-I to further optimize their product line across all evaluation categories.

“The certification provides brand owners, consumers, regulators, and shareholders tangible validation of our company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability,” said Jim Nordmeyer, O-I’s Vice President, Global Sustainability. “It’s an important baseline and helps us identify next steps to improve our environmental and social performance.”

For more information on how to begin your company’s product or material optimization journey, please contact us today.