Glass packaging production in Europe grew by 1
“We are encouraged by this positive trend which confirms our belief that brands and consumers are switching to glass for environmental reasons”, comments Adeline Farrelly – FEVE Secretary General.
This positive market dynamic for glass reflects an increasing consumer engagement with environmental causes. Consumers – and particularly millennials – are increasingly aware of the impact their daily lifestyle can have on the environment: ‘plastics pollution’ has been amongst the most searched topics on Google in 2018 in UK. Sustainability is no longer a ‘buzzword’, now consumers see a direct link between their purchasing behaviour and major environmental issues, and they want to know more about the products they buy, and the way brands behave. According to a Unilever survey carried out in 2017, more than one in five (21
Due to the level of media and political attention on “marine littering”, not only plastics but all packaging materials have come under the spotlight, and consumers are more and more attentive to the way products are packed. In fact, this can drive product choice: the Friends of Glass research reveals that 73
“This increased trust in glass from consumers is heartening for our industry. We are constantly making efforts to optimize the unique recycling properties of glass into a business model that is an authentic example of a Circular Economy. We work hard to improve our production technologies and product characteristics, to reduce energy use and minimize any environmental impact by using recycled glass.” says Adeline Farrelly.
Glass is more than ever the leading packaging material for spirits, wines and beer, while it is increasingly gaining share in the food, water and dairy sectors. It the second leading packaging material in Europe in terms of volume. The industry is strongly committed to champion glass as packaging of the future.
