Glass Packaging Institute

GPI MOVES

• OTNA will commence a IntelliSynthesis question and answer project entitled "IntelliSynthesis GPI Integration Hubs"

Context

• On May 2, 2024, Scott DeFife, President of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) contacted OnTrackNorthAmerica for help establishing strategically placed clean glass aggregation hubs around the country, in certain places where there is a lot of glass, but not a lot of end-market.
• These facilities would be better off if they were near rail transload
• The assumptions is that the freight system is underutilized.
• Scott DeFife, President, Glass Packaging Institute, [email protected], 703-684-6359

Opportunity

• GPI can work with OTNA via North American Freight Forums to help GPI identify under-utilized rail infrastructure  or property for lease that has access to rail?
• MS invited Scott DeFife to do the following:
  • Review the OnTrackNorthAmerica page on Collaborative Industrial Optimization on the OTNA website.
  • OTNA will GPI's fundamental project and organizational material
  • OTNA will prepare a specific dialogue agenda that enables OTNA to begin laying out a game plan
    • A written record of the entire conversation as the beginning of our collaborative thinking
    • We will have a second conversation to revisit our initial thinking and plan the next steps.
• Brownfields or otherwise underused infrastructure that we could make productive again.

Problems

• It is difficult getting the attention of the Class One railroads

Process

• Typically GPI members Scott to move forward with new ideas and projects on behalf of the industry collectively
• Then when we get to execution of a bigger investment plan – depending on which of them might be involved regionally (due to the location of their plants and the regional nature of glass recycling and supply)  we then talk about how to fund the collaboration to build out a specific project in a given area.
• All 5 of GPI manufacturing members who are board level – plus two other smaller plants -  have all expressed the same interest . 
• We need to have some regional collaboration on recovering glass and moving it to market.
• Ultimately –  how we move forward with actual infrastructure depends on regions and giving each of them a chance to reflect on the initial discussions.

Background Documents

Memorandum

Date:     June 2, 2024

To:          Scott DeFife, President, Glass Packaging Institute

              

From:    Michael Sussman, CEO, OnTrackNorthAmerica

Re:         Initial Thinking on a continental approach to glass recycling logistics, or RE-GLASS, Rail Enabled Glass Logistics And Sustainable Supply.

Initial Engagement Scope: 1) Layout the questions that best inform our initial thinking on the design of an optimal glass recycling and logistics value chain. 2) Engage in the dialogue to answer those questions. 3) Develop a game plan and the next questions to be answered to progress toward this new system.

The draft set of initial dialogue questions:

1)      For which types of glass are we aiming to establish new recycling logistics?

2)      What volume and location data on this glass production are currently available that are useful to our thinking?

3)      What volume and location data on this glass consumption is currently available that is useful to our thinking?

4)      What capacity and location data on this glass recycling is currently available that is useful to our thinking?

5)      Where is glass currently gathered, in what quantities, and what are the physical issues around this gathering system?

6)      What are the inputs for this glass production? What does the process entail? What are the outputs?

7)      What are the inputs for this glass recycling? What is the process? What are the outputs?

8)      Where does the recycled glass have to go next?

9)      Where is rail currently used in the transportation of glass production inputs, new product logistics, and/or recycling?

10)   Which GPI members already use rail for some aspect of their supply chain?

11)   What financial information on the production, sales, recycling, and reuse of glass is relevant to our thinking?

12)   Who do we want to gather this information?

13)   What level of GIS mapping of the facilities and data would be useful?

14)   What is the cost and timing of creating that GIS mapping? (We have an expert GIS scientist on our staff.)

15)   What regulations apply to any component of the glass production-to-recycling value chain?

16)   What challenges in recycling and recycling logistics are Scott and the GPI members already aware of?

17)   What opportunities are Scott and the GPI members hoping can be advanced?

18)   What are the leading examples of glass recycling?

19)   What are the leading examples of glass logistics?

20)   What have been the failed approaches to glass recycling and logistics?

21)   What can we learn from reviewing the successful and challenged experiences?

22)   Who are the individuals that we should interview to learn from on these matters?

23)   Where are the leading demonstrations of glass recycling and logistics internationally that we can learn from for this North American model?

24)   What federal agencies have anything to do with this supply chain already?

25)  What is GPI’s standing/posture/relations with our federal government?

26)  What policy and regulatory issues are GPI and its members concerned with?

27)   What federal agencies might be enrolled in participating and supporting this development?

28)   How is GPI and the glass industry currently viewed by the environmental advocacy community?

29)   How is the glass industry viewed by Wall Street and private equity investors?

30)   Who are the most successful GPI members?

31)  What GPI members or staff do we want to have participate in this dialogue?

32)  What value is there in having additional or all members be made aware of the analytical process?

33)  What design factors and questions flow out of the answers to these questions?

Cost to GPI for this initial phase: $3,000, to be paid in full at the outset for administrative ease.