Recycled glass market to top $4 billion by 2030

The Business Research Company says the global recycled glass market will reach more than $4 billion in 2030, growing at a 4% CAGR from 2025. Asia-Pacific is forecast to lead regional demand, while crushed glass is expected to be the biggest product segment.

Why it matters: - Recycled glass is moving from waste stream to industrial input as packaging, construction and manufacturing look for lower-cost and lower-carbon raw materials. - The market’s projected growth points to broader momentum in recycling, circular economy policies and infrastructure for collecting and processing glass waste.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released a recycled glass market outlook for 2026-2035 on July 15, 2026. - The report says the global recycled glass market will surpass $4 billion in 2030. - The market is expected to grow at a 4% CAGR leading up to 2030. - Asia-Pacific is projected to be the largest region in 2030, with a market value of $1.5 billion. - The USA is projected to be the largest country in 2030, with a market value of $0.9 billion. - Crushed glass is forecast to be the largest product segment in 2030, accounting for 40% of the market, or $2 billion.

The details: - The report says recycled glass will represent about 2% of the parent glass and glass products market, which is expected to reach about $260 billion by 2030. - Within the broader metal and mineral industry, the market is estimated to account for nearly 0.04% of total value, with the industry projected at $9,886 billion by 2030. - Asia-Pacific is expected to grow from $1.1 billion in 2025 to $1.5 billion in 2030 at a 5% CAGR. - The USA market is expected to rise from $0.8 billion in 2025 to $0.9 billion in 2030 at a 3% CAGR. - Crushed glass is supported by use in road construction, asphalt, abrasive blasting, decorative landscaping and architectural applications. - The market is segmented by source into deposit programs, drop-off or buy-back centers and curbside pickups. - The market is segmented by application into bottle and container, flat glass, fiberglass, highway beds, abrasives, fillers and other uses. - The cullet, crushed glass and glass powder segments are projected to add more than $0.8 billion in value by 2030. - Over the next five years, cullet is projected to grow by $0.3 billion, crushed glass by $0.3 billion and glass powder by $0.2 billion. - The report includes market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics and tables, Excel-based forecasting dashboards, market hotspots infographics, key technologies and future trend analysis. - The company also said its research is powered by 1,500,000 datasets, extensive secondary research and interviews with industry leaders.

Between the lines: - The forecast suggests recycled glass demand is increasingly tied to policy, not just recycling volumes. - Growth assumptions lean on stricter waste rules, ESG goals, energy savings in furnace operations and wider use in construction materials. - The biggest regional and product opportunities are concentrated where recycling systems and industrial demand are already more developed.

What's next: - The report expects continued expansion in sustainable packaging, construction aggregates, road infrastructure and glass powder uses in cement and composites. - The company points to further gains from better sorting, crushing and purification technologies. - More information is available in the company's report and a sample request.

The bottom line: - Recycled glass is becoming a mainstream materials market, with Asia-Pacific, the USA and crushed glass leading the next phase of growth.