In the world of beer packaging, the choice between glass and cans can significantly impact both the environment and the perceived quality of the product. Here Dawn Pugh, sales and marketing director at Beatson Clark, believes that glass should be the number one packaging choice for breweries.
As well as increasing sustainability, there are a number of other benefits that come with switching to glass packaging, including increased protection from harmful UV rays and giving a higher-quality feel to your products.
Thanks to 270 years of experience in the glass packaging industry, we are a popular choice for many breweries beer brands such as BrewDog, Robinsons and Greene King.
We offers standard beer bottles, customised bottles and completely bespoke designs. This flexible approach allows the company to cater to a wide range of breweries, from smaller craft brands wanting standard bottles available from stock to larger companies looking for fully bespoke bottles from 500,000 units.
The sustainability factor sets glass apart from other packaging materials. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be melted down repeatedly to create new bottles without any loss of quality or integrity.
We currently use an average of 56% post-consumer recycled material for its amber glass containers and 36% for white flint.
In addition, any industrial waste glass from the manufacturing process is also recycled back into the furnace, so there is zero waste and even fewer materials used.
The company is seeking to increase these levels even further but the availability of good quality cullet (waste glass that is ready for recycling) in the UK restricts the amount it can use.
British Glass is campaigning to keep as much recycled glass in the UK as possible. Currently 335,000 tonnes of glass are exported from the UK to mainland Europe annually.
This needs to stop or at least be reduced for the UK to be able to move towards a closed-loop glass economy.
The government recently announced a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), a new cash incentive system to boost recycling from 2025.
Glass is not included in this scheme in Scotland or in the proposed scheme for England, as there is already an excellent system in place for recycling glass and turning it into new jars and bottles. This will come as a relief to brewers using glass to package their beer.
Many industry experts believe that including glass in the DRS would have a negative impact on the collection rate of glass in the UK, which is already at an impressive 74.2%. British Glass, supported by companies like Beatson Clark, have set out their ambition to increase this to achieve a 90% collection rate by 2030.
We contribute to the level of glass cullet in its packaging through its on-site recycling plant, which processes approximately 42,000 tonnes of glass packaging each year.
Glass containers are recovered from kerbside collections, bottle banks and the hospitality trade and are then processed and melted in the furnaces to make into new bottles and jars, all on the same site in South Yorkshire.
Using recycled materials in glass production helps to reduce energy, which is an important consideration when it comes to sustainable production.
Our dark amber glass bottles are perfect for beers, ales and ciders as not only are they sustainable, but they also offer over 90% protection from harmful UV rays, ensuring a longer shelf life. High levels of vacuum and carbonisation can be maintained over a long period of time in amber glass, unaffected by temperature or light.
Our standard amber beer bottles are very popular, and for a small extra cost we can customise these to reflect the brewery’s branding.
We offer embossing options on our standard bottles, perfect for ordering in smaller volumes, as well as more tailored services including bespoke bottle design, labelling and crowns.
Glass production itself contributes to sustainable practices, using three abundant and natural elements: sand, soda ash, and limestone.
Glass is the only mainstream packaging that does not require an additional liner to protect the contents. As the single-layered material is inert it will not contaminate the product within, so is completely safe for use with food and beverages.
Although glass is not typically seen as ‘excess packaging’ there is still the potential to reduce its weight further. This, combined with an increased recycling rate, will have a significant beneficial effect on energy and CO2 reduction. We are constantly looking at opportunities to lightweight its designs and has several lightweight products within its general sale range.
At Beatson Clark we believe that we have a duty to ensure that all of our activities are responsible to our environment and our community.
“The energy used to power our facilities are from 100% renewable sources and 100% of our site waste is recycled.
By choosing our glass bottles you can be assured that you’re working with a manufacturer that champions sustainability throughout the whole process.”
The company strongly supports the huge advances the glass industry is taking in new technology to reduce the fossil fuels used in the manufacturing process.
Projects such as The European Container Glass Federation’s (FEVE) Furnace of the Future, which is powered by renewable electricity, will transform the industry in terms of sustainability, radically reducing CO2 emissions which is a fundamental step towards climate-neutral glass packaging.
Our commitment to sustainability, coupled with the inherent advantages of glass packaging, offers breweries an opportunity to align their brand with eco-friendly practices while providing consumers with a high-quality drinking experience.
