The Glass Bottles, Containers Market size is expected to grow from 743.26 billion units in 2023 to 916.09 billion units by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.27% during the forecast period (2023-2028).
The COVID -19 outbreak created a growing necessity for industries in the food & beverage sector to focus more on hygiene and sanitization. Given the current situation, people opt for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. As most of the products in this sector are included in essential services, it becomes crucial for the packaging sector to follow conservative practices.
Alcoholic drinks, like beer, accounted for the largest segment of the market, as glass does not react with the chemicals present in drinks and, therefore, preserves the aroma, strength, and flavor of these beverages, making it a favorable option for packaging. Due to this reason, a majority of the beer volume is transported in glass bottles and is expected to continue over the study period. Glass packaging is 100% recyclable, which makes it a desirable packaging option from the environmental point of view. Six tons of recycled glass directly save 6 tons of resources and reduce the emission of CO2 by 1 ton.
One of the main factors driving the market's growth is the increase in beer consumption worldwide. Beer is one of the alcoholic beverages that use glass bottles for packaging. It is packed in dark-colored glass bottles to preserve the contents, which are prone to spoilage when exposed to UV light.
Besides, consumers increasingly prefer craft beer brewed locally by small and large breweries. This trend has led glass packaging manufacturers to adjust their production and, in some cases, even switch to other growth areas, such as food and beverage. Premium food and beverage brands prefer glass (container glass) over other packaging options, such as plastic, as glass is chemically inert, non-porous, and impermeable.
In February 2021, the Loop Reusable/Returnable Packaging platform was launched in Canada in partnership with Loblaw Inc to bring waste-free shopping for various food and household products. Also, the iconic Heinz Ketchup (Glass) Bottle is made available on the Loop. Additionally, a recent survey (1,521 Canadians were surveyed online from December 9-15, 2020) by Kraft Heinz Canada showcased that Canadians have preferences for more sustainable options, despite an incremental cost. Almost 65% of respondents made an effort to choose brands that come in sustainable packaging options.
There has been an increasing trend of transparency in food packaging over the past few years. Going beyond the labeled listed ingredients, consumers also want to see the physical product before purchasing. To capture this trend, many companies, especially dairy product companies, have started offering their products in transparent glass containers.
High competition from substitute packaging like plastic and metal is challenging the market's growth. Incremental advancements in plastic packaging solutions pose a threat to the studied market. This can be primarily attributed to the popularity of plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as substitutes for glass bottle formats.
