Glass packaging production volumes in Europe have returned to 2006 levels, according to recent data published by the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE).
Up by 4.2% in 2011 to 21.7 million tonnes compared with 20.8 million tonnes in 2010, the FEVE production figures cover container glass for food and beverage, flacons for perfumery, cosmetics and pharmacy, and include volumes for Switzerland and Turkey.
Considering market diversification, as well as “major progress” made in lightweighting, the organisation says, it is conservatively estimated (based on a standard EU weight of 450g for a 75ml wine bottle) that more than 50 billion units were produced by about 160 plants in Europe for domestic and international markets.
“The Year 2011 marked a strong recovery of the industry production volumes to satisfy an increasing local demand, but also a rise of exports outside of Europe,” said FEVE President Stefan Jaenecke.
“This clearly confirms that the industry is a very stable economic reality in Europe, notwithstanding increasing competition from other materials and an unclear economic framework. It is quite reassuring in a situation of current macroeconomic uncertainty.”
Strong growth was recorded in some leading markets such as in Germany (+7.3%), France (+5.0%), Spain (+4.4%), as well as in Portugal (+3%) and in Italy (+1.8%).
The situation was relatively stable in the UK (-0.3%) and Poland (+0.5%), while Turkey confirmed the high growth trend of the previous years, although at a slower pace (+5.5%).
Recent trends for local, organic and natural food have won glass more and more space in the food sector, as consumers have also returned to glass as their preferred packaging material.
“Glass remains the packaging preferred by 74% of European consumers,” said Jaenecke.
“It is as if the current situation of uncertainty we live in triggers consumers’ quest for security and better quality of life: as a packaging solution, only glass can provide unequalled guarantees in best preserving the original taste and nutritional qualities of products consumers like, and protecting their health.”
Amalia Sartori, member of the European Parliament and chair of the parliament’s committee on industry, research and energy complemented the container glass industry on a business model based on an efficient use of recycled glass in a closed loop production system that “represents the way forward in building a resource efficient society”.
“I can only welcome the constant efforts made by the industry to improve an already efficient and sustainable system,” she said.