Glass Industry and Extended Producer Responsibility

The Silence is Deafening – But We Won’t Be Ignored: Why Glass Still Leads the Way in Sustainable Packaging

We called out the glaring hypocrisy in the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme: a policy that claims to support sustainability, yet penalises glass , one of the most sustainable materials available – while indirectly rewarding plastic.

Since then, I raised my concerns with MP Kemi Badenoch. The response? A generic and dismissive reply about her schedule. No recognition of the problem, no engagement with the facts, and certainly no defence of a policy that contradicts every environmental goal the government claims to support. Silence, too, from Mary Creagh CBE MP.

So, let’s take a moment to unpack the absurdity of where we are.

Why Glass Should Be Leading the Charge

Glass is 100% recyclable. Not once. Not twice. Infinitely. It can be melted down and remade into new bottles and jars endlessly, without any loss in quality or purity. This is not the case with plastic, which degrades each time it is recycled and often ends up in landfills or oceans after a single use.

According to British Glass, the recycling rate for glass packaging in the UK is 69.8%, compared to just 51.4% for plastic. Yet, under the EPR scheme, glass carries a significantly higher financial burden than plastic; all because the model is based on weight, not recyclability or long-term environmental impact.

EPR: A Policy That Punishes the Planet

Here’s what’s really going on:

A 500ml glass bottle is taxed more than its plastic equivalent because it weighs more. Not because it pollutes more. Not because it’s harder to recycle. Simply because it’s heavier.
Businesses are being incentivised to choose plastic over glass to save money, despite plastic’s far greater environmental harm.
More red tape, more bureaucracy, more cost – especially for SMEs. The government’s EPR rollout has created a tidal wave of reporting obligations, complex data tracking and an ever-growing administrative burden.

This isn’t just frustrating for those of us trying to champion sustainability. It’s counterproductive and short-sighted.

A Missed Opportunity for Leadership

The UK government has often positioned itself as a champion of environmental progress. But EPR, as it currently stands, contradicts everything it claims to stand for.

Instead of promoting a circular economy, it disrupts it.

Instead of encouraging businesses to invest in sustainable materials, it punishes them.

Instead of cutting red tape, it adds layers of unnecessary bureaucracy.

And instead of listening to business leaders and sustainability advocates who are on the front lines, it offers platitudes and canned responses.

The Business Perspective

At Glassworks International, we are committed to doing things the right way. We hold substantial UK stock to reduce lead times and carbon emissions from international shipping. We offer lightweighting options to help reduce material use and transport costs. And we work with customers to build long-term, sustainable packaging strategies… And we have built a carbon calculator that ensures we are always making the very best decisions for the environment and for our customers.

But we, and many others in the industry, are now being penalised for doing the right thing.

This is not just a sustainability issue, it’s a commercial one. Businesses making responsible choices should be supported, not punished.

What Needs to Change

Reform EPR to reward true sustainability, not just reduce weight.
Create financial incentives for using materials like glass that align with circular economy principles.
Reduce administrative burden and offer clearer guidance for compliance.
Listen to industry voices before pushing through policies that directly impact them.

Join the Conversation

If the government won’t listen, we need to speak louder.

This affects manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, environmental groups, and consumers. We all have a stake in building a packaging system that prioritises long-term sustainability over short-term cost-cutting.

Let’s stand up for glass. Let’s push back against poorly thought-out policy. Let’s demand better.

Kemi Badenoch, Mary Creagh – are you listening?

LATEST NEWS

Stay up to Date

Glassworks International takes pride in keeping up to date with the latest technologies and trends within glass manufacturing and production.

Glass Industry and Extended Producer Responsibility

LATEST NEWS

Stay up to Date

Our Headquarters

Get in touch