UK Glass Packaging Sector Under Pressure After New pEPR Laws

• William Brooks
• Apr 10, 2026

The UK glass packaging industry is urging the UK government to assist with domestic glass production so that it can unlock the full capacity of reusable packaging, underscoring that glass is the safest and strongest material for refill and reuse systems.

Keeping in mind that the pEPR system came into existence to encourage reuse, however, the fees that have been put on the industry are acting as a blockade for it to scale. Additionally, it has developed an environment of pressure as the risk of investing further in the industry has been put on hold.

The British glass industry is demanding a preferable policy that might not only help the reuse system become common in the UK, but also cut carbon & plastic pollution and reduce packaging box waste, which could also become a reality. Manufacturers are all set to deliver their products to the market at a better cost. Read the blog for detailed information!

Background of DRS

Recently, the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been planned to be introduced in Scotland after the new rules have been made public. If you don't know about the background of the legislation, let us explain; the main goal of the new rule is to provide a platform where it becomes easy for everyone to recycle their used drink bottles. Nevertheless, the industry expert says that adding glass in this category is not a favorable thing to do, and it can lead to unintentional environmental hazards.

Countries such as Germany, Croatia, and Finland have already implemented such deposit return schemes, with glass being a part of the regulation. It has been noticed in the past that brands and consumers are swiftly switching from glass bottles to plastic bottles because of the increased prices.

France followed the case study of Germany and eliminated the idea of a possible DRS implementation, where a 60% increase in the consumption of plastic packaging was recorded.

The Key Features of the Report

The glass industry has already sent the report to the HM Treasury, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Department for Business and Trade & PackUK.

The Federation director, Dr. Nick Kirk, quoted, "By putting forward this report, the British Glass Industry is showcasing an unwavering commitment to both the domains, i.e., safeguarding the environmental role of glass packaging and also the future of UK manufacturers and industry."

The report identified several areas where policy and fee structures could be reconsidered to better reflect real-world impacts.

A key recommendation from the sector is that the UK government pause the introduction of pEPR fees while these impacts are fully assessed.

British Glass believed a temporary pause would allow policymakers to work with industry to develop a revised approach that delivers environmental objectives without creating unintended market distortions.

Throughout the process, British Glass has acted on behalf of its members to ensure their experiences and concerns are clearly represented.

Many businesses across the sector are already reporting commercial pressures linked to anticipated EPR costs and uncertainty around future fee structures.

The report discusses various key areas where policy and fees could be amended to provide a better value to the product manufacturers and consumers alike.

The most significant suggestion that is being debated is that the UK government should put a pause on EPR fees until the overall real-world impact is completely assessed and known.

According to the British glass industry, this could be the best strategy, as it will provide the time for policymakers and industry experts to collaborate and develop an appropriate approach. A scheme that would allow the environment to benefit as well as be favourable for the industry, and would not be the reason to create any market distortions. 

The glass businesses around the country are under pressure and discussing the future risks associated with the new EPR rules and unprecedented results or an increase in fees.

Future Predictions for the Glass Industry

The latest news holds that the UK's pEPR scheme is going to incorporate a fee modulation system in its concurrent system. The main objective behind the inclusion is that it will most likely adjust the disposal fee on the basis of recyclability contribution. According to the available pEPR documentation, there is a possibility that the amendment will be put into force from the second quarter of 2026 until 2027.

Another debate in the industry suggests that, from 2028, the plastic packaging industry might have to pay higher costs due to incineration emissions after the approval of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.

Did you know that the UK glass & by-product market reached around $10.6 billion in 2024, and the UK glass manufacturing industry is projected to grow annually at a rate of 3.6% from 2025 until 2030? 

Here is a fun fact: according to British Glass trade & economy data, in the UK, high-volume glass manufacturing provides a contribution of almost £1.3 billion annually to the economy.

Wrap Up

The future of the UK glass packaging industry remains gloomy, as the discussion goes on. As the companies have requested the government to lower the fees to ensure a greener UK,a while encouraging the reuse of packaging material.

In this blog, we have highlighted the latest British glass industry packaging news, as the new pEPR costs and fee structure is causing pressure across the glass market. For more such packaging news, visit the Your Brand Your Boxes UK website’s blog section. You can also find innovation and eye-catching box packaging for your glass-based products here. 

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