Extensive Industry Experience
With more than 20 years of experience in the glass sector, Dean Butler brings deep knowledge and proven leadership to the role. His background spans across key areas of glass manufacturing, innovation, and strategic planning, making him well-equipped to guide British Glass through this critical period.

Focus on Sustainability and Innovation
In his new position, Butler has expressed a strong commitment to driving innovation and championing sustainability across the sector. Butler said:

It’s an exciting time for the glass industry. Together, we have a real opportunity to shape a strong and sustainable future for glass.

Dave Dalton, Chief Executive of British Glass, welcomed the appointment:

Dean’s passion for the industry and his strategic insight make him an excellent choice at this critical time.

He also extended sincere thanks to outgoing President Thomas Riss for his leadership and contributions to the federation.

Dean Butler’s two-year term will focus on industry collaboration, sustainable growth, and reinforcing the role of glass as a vital, innovative material within the UK economy.

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Disproportionate Costs Threaten Glass Sector

Although glass containers represent only 5% of the total volume of packaging placed on the UK market, the industry faces an estimated 30% share of the scheme’s overall cost. This imbalance risks encouraging producers to switch to less recyclable materials, contradicting the scheme’s core objective of fostering a circular economy.

Calls for Fairness and Efficiency in Waste Management

The associations urge urgent reforms to prevent “double counting” of packaging waste costs, which unfairly penalize producers. They also emphasize the need for clear collection targets and incentives for Local Authorities to enhance waste collection and processing infrastructure. These steps, they argue, are essential for improving recyclability and advancing the UK’s circular economy goals, ensuring glass remains a sustainable, recyclable material vital to the industry’s future.

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Electricity Cost Relief for Manufacturers

A major highlight is the increase in Network Charge Compensation from 60% to 90%, starting in 2026. This move will bring UK electricity costs closer to those in the EU, helping domestic glass producers stay competitive in global markets where energy costs can make or break margins.

Grid Connection Reforms Support Decarbonisation

British Glass also applauded the focus on connection reforms, which currently hinder companies from accessing the grid for clean energy transitions. These changes will ease the adoption of electric and hydrogen-based technologies, both key to decarbonising the glass production process.

Concerns Over Missing Incentives

Still, the organisation expressed concern that the strategy lacks commitment to business models that support electrification. Unlike the EU’s Carbon Contracts for Difference, designed to encourage clean investment in heavy industries, the UK offers no equivalent. This gap continues to discourage companies from investing in electric furnace technology, which is already advancing in countries like France and Germany.

Next Steps for Competitiveness and Sustainability

While the Industrial Strategy signals clear progress, British Glass stresses that further measures are needed to close the fossil fuel vs. electricity cost gap. Without stronger incentives, the UK risks falling behind in the race toward sustainable glass production.

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Entry Details and Award Categories
Organised annually by British Glass, the awards honour excellence across various categories such as innovation, sustainability, design, and workforce development. Entries open at the beginning of July, encouraging organisations to submit their most impactful projects and initiatives from the past year.

Highlights from 2024
Last year’s awards, held in Leeds, showcased a strong field of competitors. Stoelzle Flaconnage earned both Company of the Year and Design of the Year – Container. Other prominent winners included Saint-Gobain Glass, Ardagh Glass Packaging, Encirc, Glass Futures, and Pilkington UK, which was honoured for its transparent conductive glass innovation.

Looking Ahead to Manchester
The 2025 ceremony promises to be an exciting night filled with celebration and networking, as professionals from across the industry gather to share their achievements and discuss the future of glass manufacturing. With sustainability and design at the forefront of industry priorities, the awards reflect the evolving role of glass in modern architecture, packaging, and beyond.

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A recent industry-wide survey by British Glass has sent ripples through the packaging sector, revealing a stark reality: 43% of UK brands and retailers are actively considering a move away from glass packaging. This concerning statistic comes amidst the backdrop of the UK Government’s proposed Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) reforms, spearheaded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). While the principle of producers bearing the full cost of managing their packaging waste is laudable, British Glass argues that the current pEPR fee structure is fundamentally flawed and could inadvertently undermine environmental goals while jeopardising a vital domestic industry.

The core of the issue lies in DEFRA’s decision to base pEPR fees on weight rather than volume. This seemingly innocuous detail disproportionately penalises heavier, yet highly recyclable, materials like glass. The survey findings paint a grim picture of the potential fallout: a staggering 77% of brands contemplating a shift away from glass would opt for plastic – a lighter, and arguably less sustainable, alternative. This suggests that the cost-saving imperative driven by the pEPR fees could override environmental considerations, leading to a perverse outcome where the policy designed to promote sustainability inadvertently encourages the adoption of less eco-friendly materials.

The financial burden of pEPR is also a significant concern. The survey highlights that 38% of brands and retailers anticipate passing on over 95% of these costs directly to consumers, indicating potential price increases for everyday goods. Furthermore, two-thirds of businesses are considering importing glass, as lower international costs could help absorb the pEPR fees, posing a direct threat to UK-based glass manufacturing and the jobs it supports.

British Glass technical director Nick Kirk has warned that glass packaging could shoulder up to one-third of the total £1.5 billion pEPR cost, despite representing only about 5% of packaging waste by volume. This imbalance, he argues, could accelerate the decline of UK-produced glass and foster a greater reliance on imports.

While reuse is a commendable long-term objective, British Glass emphasizes that it is not a viable immediate solution due to a lack of established infrastructure and significant upfront costs. DEFRA itself concedes that widespread reuse is at least a decade away. This underscores the need for a pragmatic approach that considers the current realities of the packaging industry.

The findings from British Glass, supported by DEFRA’s own Impact Assessment and a Freedom of Information request, clearly indicate that the current pEPR framework risks unintended and detrimental consequences. British Glass is urging the government to revise the fee structure, delay the implementation of fees for glass until the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is operational, and collaborate with industry stakeholders to develop realistic and sustainable long-term reuse solutions. Failure to do so could lead to higher consumer costs, a shift towards less sustainable packaging choices, and a significant blow to the UK’s glass manufacturing industry, all without delivering the intended environmental benefits. The time for a re-evaluation of the pEPR framework is now, to ensure that the policy achieves its noble aims without sacrificing economic stability and true environmental progress.

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Since the UKs departure from the European Union, British Glass has worked to support our members on any arising trade issues. One way we have done this is through the continuous collection of glass industry trading statistics, specifically tonnages and values of both imports and exports of glass products.

British Glass collects trade statistics specific to the container, flat, and fibre glass sectors which all have their own separate trade reports. All glass products are considered within the full UK glass sector trade report, which makes four reports in total. The four reports are supported by a summary document which displays the basic imports and exports totals from 2023 and 2024 across each glass product.

British Glass publishes the third editions of the UK glass industry trade reports which are free of charge to members of British Glass and will be updated annually. The reports display data from 2014 to 2024 on imports and exports by both tonnages and value. Each section of the report analyses which countries are the top importers and exporters for each year between 2014 to 2024, which shows a picture of where glass products are coming from and going to over the last decade. Additionally, the reports highlight the price per tonne of the various imported and exported glass products. Finally, each report specifically analyses data from 2024 to showcase the top ten countries which glass is coming from and going to in the most recent year by value and tonnage.

The four reports and supporting sector document can be accessed below by members using their British Glass website logins (the links will not show the selected reports until login is entered):
•    2024 British Glass – UK Container Glass Trade Report
•    2024 British Glass – UK Fibre Glass Trade Report
•    2024 British Glass – UK Flat Glass Trade Report
•    2024 British Glass – UK Glass Sector Trade Report
•    2023 2024 Sector Trade Summary (publicly available)

Alternatively, members can request copies of the trade reports from information@britglass.co.uk. For public or general enquiries please also contact the British Glass information email address.

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The ambitious £54 million research and development project is geared towards modeling and developing an optimized approach for enhancing glass furnaces through electrical heating.

This innovative approach, endorsed by industry authority British Glass, is projected to slash UK emissions from glass manufacturing by a substantial 56%. The facility, scheduled to achieve full operational capacity by late 2024 with the ability to produce an impressive 30 tonnes of glass per day, stands out as the pioneer in adopting Siemens’ cutting-edge digital control system, PCS Neo. This advanced system will serve to unify and manage all plant operations at Glass Futures, setting a new benchmark in operational efficiency.

George Myers, the esteemed control systems engineer at Glass Futures, emphasized the critical importance of decarbonizing the manufacturing process in response to the escalating global demand for glass. The utilization of electric boosting and hydrogen for glass melting presents a promising avenue towards achieving sustainability goals. The aspiration at St Helens is not only to develop a solution applicable to large-scale manufacturers but also to serve as a beacon for the adoption of more efficient furnaces worldwide.

The strategic partnership with Siemens is pivotal in enabling this vision to materialize. The implementation of PCS Neo will empower stakeholders to monitor the entire facility seamlessly from a centralized communication platform, facilitating real-time insights and knowledge sharing across global boundaries. Stephen Haigh, head of glass industry UK & Ireland at Siemens, underscored the significance of simplifying operations and data analytics through PCS Neo, thereby catalyzing the realization of Glass Futures’ ambitious objectives.

By streamlining data collection and operational processes, PCS Neo is poised to play a transformative role in not only the St Helens project but also in future endeavors within the glass manufacturing sector worldwide. The flexibility it offers in terms of workforce deployment and global engagement underscores its potential to drive innovation and learning on a global scale.

The collaborative efforts between Glass Futures and Siemens exemplify a shared commitment to sustainability, innovation, and excellence in the manufacturing landscape. As the project continues to progress towards its completion in 2024, the industry eagerly anticipates the transformative impact it will have on shaping the future of glass manufacturing practices worldwide.

Source:Simens with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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British Glass takes a pioneering step towards a more sustainable future with the release of its comprehensive report, revealing that around 600,000 tonnes of glass are lost annually in the UK, despite a glass recycling rate of over 75%. In collaboration with the climate action non-government organization WRAP, British Glass introduces a groundbreaking initiative outlined in the report titled ‘A Roadmap to Closed Loop Glass Recycling.’ This initiative aims to propel the UK’s glass recycling efforts, advocating for sustainability and circular economy principles within the glass packaging industry. The ultimate goal is to establish a true closed-loop system for glass recycling, reducing waste and promoting environmental stewardship. The report, meticulously titled and compiled, analyzes current glass recycling practices in the UK, utilizing the latest available data to identify areas for improvement.

Dr. Nick Kirk, Technical Director at British Glass, emphasizes the imperative nature of achieving a 90% glass recycling capture rate for the industry’s sustainable future. The roadmap within the report serves as a strategic guide, outlining steps for stakeholders in the glass supply chain to collectively work towards this ambitious yet achievable target. Dr. Kirk calls for continued engagement from local authorities and the government to collaborate with British Glass and WRAP, stressing that support and collaboration are crucial for efficient glass collection and recycling.

The roadmap underscores the necessity of shifting from co-mingling materials to separate glass collections, a key enabler for improving the final cullet quality essential for closed-loop recycling. Additionally, it advocates for a reduction in the frequency and capacity of residual waste collections, aiming to incentivize recycling behaviors among consumers. A notable insight from the report is the success of separate collection schemes, exemplified by the Welsh Collections Blueprint. Wales, through efficient kerbside separated sort systems, has achieved one of the highest recycling rates in Europe, with 92% of glass disposed at home being placed in recycling boxes.

The report also stresses the importance of communication campaigns to raise awareness among consumers and businesses about the benefits of glass recycling. By fostering a culture of understanding and participation, British Glass envisions a future where glass recycling becomes an integral part of the sustainable fabric of the UK.

Source: GlassBalkan

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British Glass, the representative body championing the UK glass sector, has unveiled its 2024 Policy Position Document, shedding light on the industry’s indispensable role in the national economy and job market. The comprehensive document addresses the multifaceted landscape of the UK glass sector, spotlighting the production of a diverse range of glass products crucial to the decarbonization of various industries, including glass wool insulation and triple glazing.

The UK glass sector, a powerhouse contributing over £2 billion annually to the economy and fostering more than 120,000 jobs throughout the supply chain, is not without its challenges. The industry grapples with issues like elevated manufacturing costs, unfair trade practices, and a reactive trade remedy system. In response, the Policy Position Document proposes strategic recommendations to overcome these challenges and create an enabling environment for UK manufacturing. Recommendations include the formulation of a long-term industrial strategy, proactive trade remedies, and incentives for energy-efficient renovations.

Outlined in the document are three “key strategic pillars” that encapsulate the focus areas for the UK glass industry in 2024 and beyond: “Power decarbonization,” “Recycle it right,” and “Futureproof skills.” Each pillar’s current industry position is accompanied by specific policy recommendations designed to guide the glass industry towards both short-term and long-term decarbonization.

The document also underscores the industry’s dedication to achieving net-zero emissions and fostering sustainable practices. This commitment involves initiatives such as utilizing recycled glass and promoting the separate collection of all glass packaging at the kerbside.

Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass, expressed enthusiasm about the document’s release, stating, “We are pleased to share our latest policy position document, showcasing how the UK glass sector makes essential contributions to the economy and job market nationwide. Our commitment to sustainability and innovation drives our efforts to address the challenges facing the industry and create a supportive environment for UK manufacturing. We believe that by working collaboratively with stakeholders, we can shape a strong and sustainable future for the UK glass industry.”

Acknowledging the importance of government support in achieving a sustainable future, British Glass encourages ongoing engagement with political parties. The goal is to provide guidance in shaping policy positions, fostering the growth of the UK manufacturing sector, and contributing to the broader economy.

Source: British Glass with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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British Glass has recently released a forward-looking policy position document for 2024, meticulously detailing the contributions and challenges faced by the UK glass sector. This comprehensive document not only sheds light on the industry’s significant economic and employment contributions but also addresses the hurdles it encounters, offering strategic policy recommendations for a resilient and sustainable future.

The UK glass sector stands as a powerhouse, contributing over £2 billion annually to the economy and sustaining more than 120,000 jobs across the supply chain. Despite these commendable figures, the industry confronts challenges such as escalating manufacturing costs, unfair trade practices, and a reactive trade remedy system incurring substantial costs.

British Glass’s policy recommendations aim to fortify the UK manufacturing landscape, advocating for a long-term industrial strategy, proactive trade remedies, and incentives for energy-efficient renovations. The document emphasizes three pivotal focus areas for the UK glass industry in 2024 and beyond: Power Decarbonisation, Recycle It Right, and Futureproof Skills.

Underlining the commitment to sustainability and innovation, the document highlights specific industry positions for each strategic pillar, followed by detailed policy recommendations aimed at steering the glass sector toward short and long-term decarbonization goals. It emphasizes the industry’s dedication to achieving net-zero status and promoting sustainable practices, such as incorporating recycled glass and implementing separate collection of all glass packaging at the kerbside.

Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass, expressed enthusiasm about sharing the policy position document, stating, “Our commitment to sustainability and innovation drives our efforts to address the challenges facing the industry and create a supportive environment for UK manufacturing. We believe that by working collaboratively with stakeholders, we can shape a strong and sustainable future for the UK glass industry.”

As part of its advocacy, British Glass encourages ongoing engagement with political parties, inviting them to align their policy positions with industry needs. This collaborative effort aims to foster growth in the UK manufacturing sector and contribute to the broader economic landscape.

Source: GlassBalkan

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