United Kingdom Glass Packaging Market - Growth, Trends, COVID -19 Impact, Forecasts (2021 - 2026)

The United Kingdom Glass Packaging Market is expected to register a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period. With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the glass manufacturing companies in the country are witnessing a significant demand to maintain the balanced supply chain of glass bottles. For instance, Beatson Clark manufacturer of glass containers in the United Kingdom has maintained the supply of bottles and jars for the pharmaceutical companies by opening its manufacturing plant in the country in times of the pandemic.

Key Highlights

• Veganism is one of the fastest-growing wine trends and is anticipated to be reflected in wine production, leading to more vegan-friendly wines, which would require glass bottles because of zero rates of chemical reactions ensuring that the wine inside the glass bottle has its aroma and flavor intact.
• The UK wine industry, for instance, has been running out of glass, creating unprecedented price hikes for bottlers, and the situation is likely to continue till 2021. Apart from the factors mentioned in the earlier point, quite a few UK bottlers have been building up stocks ahead of Brexit. Many brand owners have been switching from plastic bottles to glass, leading to a temporary shortage in the market.​
• Other factors driving the growth of the glass market are the increasing demand for glass bottles from the pharmaceutical industry. The rise in the disposable income of people is also a significant factor propelling the growth of the market, as consumers tend to demand more effective and aesthetic packaging design.
• The introduction of stringent laws to enhance the quality and integrity of domestically manufactured drugs leads to an increase in the use of glass for pharmaceutical packaging products. Additionally, the increasing demand for sterile medical packaging products from the pharmaceutical industries would further drive the market's growth over the forecast period.
• One of the significant trends that are expected to proliferate the use of glass bottles in the united kingdom cosmetics segment is the flexibility that the companies are adopting to make their packaging recyclable. Apart from post-consumer recycled products, light-weighting is another trend that is expected to boost the use of glass in cosmetic packaging. This will help companies persist with glass as a packaging material as bulk transportation of lightweight cosmetics will get cheaper. ​

Key Market Trends

Glass Bottles and Containers Expected to Witness Significant Growth

• The demonization of plastic packaging and the increasing push for sustainability, along with the long-established infrastructure for recycling, have created a renewed push for the use of glass bottles across the United Kingdom.
• The trend of customization is also growing in the region, with demand for bespoke glass bottles increasing. The UK's best-selling kombucha tea is being sold in new bespoke glass bottles manufactured by Rotherham glass manufacturer Beatson Clark.
• The rising consumer spending on grooming and beauty products is driving the demand for premium products, augmenting the demand for glass bottles and containers, and influencing the market growth. For instance, according to L’Oréal, the global cosmetics market's annual growth in 2019 stood at 5.5% and was estimated to be EUR 220 billion in 2020. Cosmetic brands worldwide are increasingly offering their products in glass bottles that contain recycled material. This is increasingly becoming part of the product campaigns and driving the demand for glass packaging in the cosmetics industry. For instance, Gerresheimer is planning to use post-consumer recycled glass, and from 2020, the company will start producing glass with a higher proportion of recycled glass.
• Moreover, Encirc, part of the Vidrala Group, incorporated cutting-edge technology to see the plant’s hot end (where bottles are produced) digitally connected to the cold end (where bottles are inspected). Further, the Vidrala group invests EUR 140 million in Encirc’s two UK-based plants in Cheshire.

Pharmaceutical Sector Expected to Witness Significant Share

• The pharmaceutical industry is one of the vital industries for the United Kingdom due to the significant usage of drugs, improved medical science, and the rising number of diseases in the country. The research-based pharmaceutical industry also plays a critical role in restoring the United Kingdom to growth and ensuring future competitiveness in an advancing global economy. Furthermore, in May 2021, the Serum Institute of India announced the investment of GBP 240 million in the United Kingdom to expand its vaccine business and sales office in the country. Such investments increase the demand for vials and ampoules in the country.
• Moreover, In 2021, the country was hit by a second wave of COVID-19 and adversely affected in 2020. According to WHO, the country reported 4,425,944 positive cases and 127,570 deaths. This increased the need for vaccines in the country. After the launch of Covishield and AstraZeneca’s vaccine against the SARS COVID-19 virus, the country's demand for vials and ampoules increased. Moreover, according to GOV.UK, about 51,225,890 people have been vaccinated so far, and the number is expected to increase as the country is focusing on vaccinating the entire population. This is expected to fuel the demand for glass packaging.
• Also, in October 2020, DWK Life Science announced the offering of borosilicate pharmaceutical glass vials to VMIC, which planned to set up the United Kingdom’s first strategic vaccine development and advanced manufacturing capability. Furthermore, CIMC also aims to open a permanent facility by 2021 in the country. Such initiatives and expansion are driving the demand for glass vials and ampoules in the United Kingdom.
• Furthermore, the country’s emerging industries, such as life science and diagnostics, are focusing on aseptic filling projects, driving the production of vials. Moreover, the researchers in the country are also conserved about a hypothetical disease X, which is theorized to cause the same infection as the COVID-19 at a higher fatality rate, and the researchers hope to produce solutions with advanced aseptic filling and rapid diagnostic testing. Such advanced projects running in the country are expected to increase the demand for glass packaging.

Competitive Landscape

The United Kingdom Glass Packaging Market moderately competitive, with a considerable number of regional and global players. The companies are leveraging strategic collaborative initiatives to increase market share and profitability. However, the properties of glass and its benefits to beverages, cosmetics, and other industries are leading to increased adoption of glass bottles and containers. Vendors are focusing on replacing plastic with environmentally friendly product glass.

• May 2021 - Berlin Packaging announced the expansion of its United Kingdom business with the acquisition of Raepak Limited, The addition of Raepak will enable Berlin Packaging to further extend its offering in the cosmetics and personal care sector
• March 2021 - SGD Pharma announced the updated version of the Type I molded glass vial range, available in three market-driven offerings, each offered to satisfy different needs and parenteral drug specifications. The offering provides pharma and biopharma companies with products and services solutions that meet the needs of their therapeutic applications, drug properties, and business environment.

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