York Gin has become the first gin to adopt 100% recycled UK made glass into their bottles.
Transitioning from extra white flint, produced solely from virgin glass, to Vista, crafted entirely from post consumer recycled (PCR) glass, the company has been able to “substantially decrease their environmental footprint” (though no life cycle assessments have been published).
Verallia, the glass packaging firm behind the new bottle, has established 19 dedicated cullet processing centres across eight countries. The facilities sort, clean and prepare used glass, so it can be processed into new bottles.
“These efforts have allowed us to significantly increase the amount of recycled glass we use,” Verallia said in a statement. In 2023, the company used an additional 227,000 tonnes of cullet compared to 2019, avoiding more than 54,000ktCO2e.
Glass manufacturers and many drinks companies have criticised the new extended producer responsibility for packaging rules – with glass packaging attracting unrealistic fees, according to the likes of UKHospitality and the Wine and Spirit trade Association.
“We are united in urging the government to reconsider the proposed fees, and to work with businesses to implement a scheme that truly supports the delivery of a circular economy,” said the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and other industry representatives in a statement in June. They have argued the fees will push drinks brands towards plastic packaging, which is lighter.
An industry survey by British Glass, published in May, 43% of brands and retailers are considering switching away from glass, with 77% of those saying they’d switch to plastic.
The research also showed that 23% are exploring reuse which, as Footprint has reported, could bring considerable cost savings.
