- Unipublic and Ecovidrio present La Vuelta’s most sustainable edition and will bring awareness to the problem of waste disposal in natural surroundings.
- Environmental volunteers will collect rubbish over a distance of two kilometres.
- Stage winners will receive a trophy made of glass that has been recycled by locals from up to 40 municipalities.
Unipublic and Ecovidrio presented La Vuelta’s most sustainable edition this morning. The campaign ‘Recycle glass and pedal’, that is taking place for the fourth consecutive year, features among this year’s novelties the participation of environmental volunteers who will collect rubbish over a distance of two kilometres in eight of the competition’s stages. The aim of this activity is to bring awareness to all cycling fans regarding the need to care for the environment and to fight against waste disposal in natural surroundings.
This campaign’s new edition has been presented at an event featuring the attendance of Javier Guillén, General Director of La Vuelta and Borja Martiarena, Ecovidrio Marketing Director. Javier Guillén highlighted that “as cycling is a sport enjoyed mainly in nature, we are very aware of the problem regarding waste disposal in natural surroundings and we can think of no better ally than Ecovidrio to fight against this global problem”. Borja Martiarena argued that “one of the solutions to fight against waste disposal is recycling. This is why, at Ecovidrio, we wish to convince all La Vuelta fans of the need to recycle through the campaign ‘Recycle glass and pedal’”.
Ecovidrio and La Vuelta have a great ally in this mission. The
Global Nature Foundation, that has dedicated the past 25 years to protecting nature, will be in charge of training the volunteers as to how the rubbish must be collected.
Up to 40 municipalities have come together in this initiative and will place special containers in their localities. The trophies awarded to stage winners will be made of glass recycled by locals and sourced from these containers. Ecovidrio has again designed a glass collection container inspired by La Vuelta, along with which they will once again contribute to the donation of ‘Handbikes’ to the Foundation of the National Hospital for Paraplegic Research and Integration. The use of these bicycles is essential for the development of patients’ muscles, which also allows them to maintain contact with nature. Fans will be able to purchase them through the www.miniglu.es website and every 500 units sold will result in the company donating one handbike to the National Paraplegic Hospital in Toledo.
Ex-cyclist, Óscar Pereiro, winner of the Tour de France 2006, will be the ambassador who will accompany this initiative for the entire duration of La Vuelta, promoting the values of cycling and of recycling glass.
RECYCLING GLASS PACKAGING IN SPAIN
In 2017, Spaniards recycled 789,235 tonnes of glass packaging through the green container, an average of 16.9 kg per inhabitant and 64 containers per person. Ecovidrio estimates that the rate of glass recycling reached 73% in 2017. These results show a solid, growing trend in public awareness. Recycling glass packaging saves prime materials, energy, reduces CO2 emissions as well as the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill, which is a crucial element in minimising the effects of climate change. Each time a citizen recycles three glass bottles, he/she reduces by one kilo the amount of rubbish that ends up in the landfill and saves enough energy to charge a Smartphone battery for an entire year, do three loads of washing or wash all the clothes belonging to a family of four three times.
