British Glass meets with UK Government to keep glass competitive

British Glass met with the UK Government’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to 

discuss the potential impact of recent glass packaging regulations.

British Glass met with Defra’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) team to discuss the potential impacts 

of the proposed EPR fees on glass packaging.

Key stakeholders from across the glass supply chain were also in attendance.

This included glass manufacturers such as Ardagh UK and Encirc, trade associations, drinks brands, and retailers.

During the meetings, Defra acknowledged the concerns raised by industry leaders and committed to reassessing the EPR fees structure.

This included taking the packaging volume into account in the revised methodology.

Defra has pledged to publish revised fees by the end of September.

British Glass also raised concerns about the timeframes for implementing EPR and DRS, which will lead to glass beverage packaging paying EPR fees from 2025.

Meanwhile, competing materials (metal cans and plastic bottles) are exempt.

Consequently, the association estimates that metal and plastic beverage packaging will avoid around £500 million in EPR fees between 2025 and October 2027.

British Glass believes this will lead to uncompetitive market conditions for nearly three years for glass beverage packaging.

This could result in material switching and a substantial loss of market share for glass packaging.

Nick Kirk, British Glass Technical Director, said: “EPR is designed to incentivise producers to design more sustainable circular packaging and reduce waste.

“However, if the system disproportionately penalises materials like glass, it risks driving producers towards less 

circular options that may be lighter but more environmentally harmful over their lifecycle, all in the name of reducing costs.

“We’re pleased that Defra has recognised this, and we look forward to receiving the revised EPR fees following 

a methodology revision later this month; without a change in the methodology used to calculate the fees, the fee change is likely to be modest”

Furthermore, Defra indicated that potential reforms to the Simpler Recycling policy are under consideration.

These reforms should aim to ensure that the glass collected through household and commercial recycling is of higher quality and value.