New packaging tax poses serious risks to industry, British Glass warns

UK – British Glass, the industry body representing the UK’s glass sector, has voiced serious concerns over the government’s upcoming packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme, citing its potential to undermine the glass industry’s competitiveness and sustainability efforts.

The pEPR scheme, recently approved by parliament, shifts the financial burden of waste collection and sorting from local authorities to producers.

Under this system, heavier materials like glass will face significantly higher levies than lighter alternatives.

British Glass estimates that costs for glass-packaged products could rise by more than 10p (50¢) per unit, with beverage packaging fees for glass set to be 49 times higher than those for other materials.

This pricing disparity may drive producers away from recyclable glass in favor of less sustainable options, contradicting the scheme’s intended environmental goals.

British Glass warns that this shift could lead to job losses in a sector that employs approximately 120,000 workers, particularly in manufacturing hubs across the UK.

The tax, slated for implementation in April 2025, is expected to increase the cost of various goods, including a 330ml glass beer bottle, which could incur an additional fee of 5p under the new system.

British Glass’s chief executive, Dave Dalton, expressed frustration, stating, “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.

“British Glass supports the principle of pEPR but believes this version will significantly harm our competitiveness and lead to job losses in the UK’s manufacturing heartlands.”

British Glass has consistently advocated for waste collection and recycling reforms to achieve a circular economy but contends that the current scheme unjustly penalises glass.

Despite a recent decision by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)to reduce base fees, the industry group argues that these adjustments are insufficient.

Environmental considerations

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be endlessly recycled in a closed loop without losing quality. However, British Glass believes the modest fee reductions fail to recognize these environmental benefits.

The trade body warns that the pEPR scheme, as it stands, may inadvertently increase reliance on disposable plastics, undermining efforts to reduce plastic waste.

British Glass, alongside major food and drink producers, had previously lobbied Members of Parliament and ministers to reconsider the policy’s design, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that supports all packaging formats.

While welcoming any fee reduction as a step forward, British Glass remains concerned that the current framework does not adequately promote the use of sustainable materials like glass, which could hinder the UK’s transition to a circular economy.

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