Figures published by FEVE, the EU Federation for container glass, show a growth rate of 4 per cent in Europe’s production of glass packaging. The figures include glass containers - bottles, jars and flacons - produced in Europe in 2007 (including Turkey and Switzerland).
In 2007, production in Europe amounted to more than 22M t which, in terms of demand for empty glass containers, represented 36 kg/capita, up from 35 kg in 2006.
“This is a welcome sign and comes after a number of years of virtual stagnation,” says Dominique Tombeur, president of FEVE. “It sends an encouraging signal to the industry to keep investing in new furnaces and upgrades, new products and processes.”
Despite competition from other packaging materials, Portugal and Turkey topped the league in increased glass container production, with year on year growth of over 12 and 18 per cent, respectively. In volume terms, Germany still tops the chart, producing over 4M t - just under 20 per cent of total EU production of bottles, jars and flacons in 2007. France and Italy are close behind, with just over 3.5M t - each reflecting the buoyant demand for inert packaging for luxury goods, food products and wines.
