The data and analysis company GlobalData is seeing an increasing trend in the UK for companies to replace glass packaging with paper bottles for alcoholic beverages. Sustainability, cost efficiency and interruptions in the supply of glass have been the main factors behind this change in recent years.
Aldi has recently introduced wine in bottles that 94 per cent recycled cardboard and are equipped with a food-safe inner bag. The retailer's initiative followed Absolut Vodka's decision to launch paper bottles on the market in June 2023.
„Sustainability has become an important issue for manufacturers and consumers alike. According to a recent consumer survey conducted by GlobalData, sustainable/environmentally friendly products are important or desirable to 65 per cent of UK consumers. Frugalpac, a manufacturer of paper bottles, claims that its bottles have a carbon footprint around six times smaller than that of conventional glass bottles.“
Neralla Rama Ravi Teja, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData
One reason for the changeover is the weight: glass is heavier than cardboard and consumes more fuel for transport. The escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis caused fuel prices in the UK to rise sharply and triggered a cost of living crisis. „One strategy to reduce fuel costs is to reduce the weight of packaging, to reduce fuel consumption per unit during transport. Due to its lighter weight compared to glass, cardboard has become an attractive option for alcoholic beverage producers. With the increasing trend towards home delivery of alcoholic beverages, lighter packaging is the order of the day.“
The importance of convenience, ease of transport and portability continues to grow, driving demand for lighter packaging. As alcoholic beverages in lightweight packaging such as metal cans and cardboard bottles are easy to transport, they offer consumers more flexibility in terms of consumption.
„In addition to these factors, the unstable glass supply has forced beverage producers to look for alternative packaging solutions. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has not only hindered the supply of fuel, but also dealt a severe blow to the availability of glass in Europe. Russian air strikes severely damaged Ukrainian glass production facilities in early 2022, leading to a shortage of material and subsequently leading to price increases in Europe led. Vetropack, one of the leading glass manufacturers in Europe, only resumed operations in Ukraine in May 2023. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has disrupted all industries that rely on glass in the UK and forced them to innovate.“
Source: GlobalData
