Glass sector criticises UK packaging scheme

British Glass accuses the UK Government of 'shattering the UK glass sector' after Parliament passes a new packaging tax.

The packaging extended producer (pEPR) scheme shifts the cost of collection and sorting from local authorities to producers.

British Glass says that heavier containers like glass will incur higher levies, so products in glass bottles and jars could have an additional cost of more than 10p compared to products in plastic or metal containers which will only have a marginal cost.

The trade association highlights that glass fees for beverage packaging will be around 49 times higher than other materials, less recyclable materials, leaving brands with no choice but to move away from using 100% recyclable glass products.

It believes this will lead to job losses in a sector that employs 120,000 in the supply chain.

Chief Executive of British Glass, Dave Dalton, says, 'The government has failed to listen to concerns from producers and trade bodies and is ploughing on with this ill-thought-out scheme which is a hammer blow to the glass sector and British manufacturing.

'Prices will increase both for consumers and SMEs who are already operating on wafer-thin margins.

'The effect on the environment is equally depressing. The government has a plan for a circular and zero-waste economy, yet the pEPR policy will incentivise more plastic – which is less circular than glass. We urge the government to re-think this policy and meet with businesses and British Glass as a priority.'