The introduction of the new packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme has created a challenging landscape for both glass manufacturers and brands. Understandably, the uncertainty around initial fees has caused concern across the sector, with some brands considering moving away from glass to avoid disproportionate fees.
However, both British Glass and Beatson Clark are confident that the situation is temporary, the system is still bedding in, and the long‑term outlook for glass is far more balanced than the early figures suggest. British Glass is confident that pEPR fees for glass will fall once actual collection and recycling costs are fully understood and is urging brands not to make reactive material changes based on the first‑year estimates.
Meanwhile, Beatson Clark is doing everything possible to support customers through this transition by lightweighting our containers wherever feasible, reducing costs without compromising strength, performance, or design.
UK packaging EPR scheme
pEPR, which came into effect on 1st April 2025, shifts the full cost of managing packaging waste from local authorities to producers. Because the UK scheme is based largely on weight rather than recyclability, glass has been hit disproportionately hard. Meanwhile, drinks packaged in plastic bottles and cans are exempt until the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) launches in October 2027, leaving glass at a competitive disadvantage in the short term.
Nick Kirk, Federation Director at British Glass, predicts that the pEPR fee for glass will come down, and is therefore urging brands not to switch from glass to other materials just yet. “The published pEPR fee for glass was based on estimated collection and sorting costs and came in much higher than expected, especially considering that glass is infinitely recyclable into new packaging,” he said.
“Once the actual cost of packaging collection and sorting is known, the future pEPR fee for glass should be reduced. Competing packaging materials will face their own policy costs, including the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and recyclability modulation, as well as the immeasurable impact on human health and the environment from other materials. So, think twice before considering a material switch based solely on the current glass pEPR fee.”
Lightweighting of Glass Packaging at Beatson Clark
To support producers who want to continue to use glass packaging, but who are facing initially high pEPR fees, we’re working hard to take as much weight out of our products as possible without diminishing the integrity, strength or design of the containers.
In the last 20 years, glass bottles have become 30% lighter on average; more recycled glass content is being used in production than ever, and energy consumption is down in furnaces and across distribution chains due to advancing technology. Each time a container mould comes up for renewal, Beatson Clark’s in-house design team reviews the design to reduce the weight of the container where possible and ensure that the packaging weight is optimised to improve efficiency and sustainability while maintaining performance and quality.
We’ve recently reduced the weight of 12 products in our general sale range, from beer and liqueur bottles to food jars. This process has led to a reduction in container weights of between 5g and 105g, which not only lowers costs for customers but also protects the environment as less CO2 is emitted during manufacture.
Eddie Pickering, Managing Director at Beatson Clark added, “We recognise the pEPR scheme is unfair in its current form, but we are determined to do everything we can to support our customers. By continually innovating in design and efficiency, we’re helping brands keep glass packaging both sustainable and cost-effective.”
Local Government in Opposition of pERP
Labour MP Sarah Champion, whose Rotherham constituency is home to Beatson Clark, has been a vocal opponent of pEPR and has worked hard to alleviate the damage that is likely to be caused to the glass packaging sector by the scheme. “It is utterly illogical that Defra decisions will result in glass jars and beer bottles being switched to plastic,” she said. “Defra’s decision is bad for consumers, bad for the environment and terrible for Britain’s glass industry.”
The UK glass container sector is worth £1.7 billion to the economy each year. It produces eight billion bottles and jars annually and employs 120,000 people in the supply chain. But it’s an industry that’s under threat as a result of a poorly thought out pEPR scheme. Alongside British Glass, we continue to urge the government to make adjustments, to protect our vital domestic glass packaging industry.