Table of Contents
- Glass Packaging Under EPR
- EPR Fee Rates for Glass
- Who Is Obligated?
- Common Glass Packaging Formats
- Why Glass Costs Add Up
- Reporting Glass Packaging
- Reducing Glass EPR Costs
- Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Glass has the lowest EPR fee rate per tonne at approximately £192, but its heavy weight means total costs can be the highest of any material.
- A standard wine bottle weighs 400-500g — 100,000 bottles generate 40-50 tonnes of packaging, costing £7,700-£9,600 in EPR fees.
- Lightweighting glass is the single most effective strategy, with potential savings of 20-30% on EPR fees.
- Colour affects recyclability — clear and green glass are most easily recycled; mixed/amber glass may face higher future modulated fees.
- The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) may exempt some glass drinks containers from EPR fees — monitor developments.
Glass Packaging Under EPR
Glass packaging benefits from the lowest per-tonne EPR fee rate of any major packaging material. This reflects glass’s excellent recyclability — it can be recycled infinitely without quality loss, and the UK has well-established glass collection and reprocessing infrastructure.
However, the low fee rate is offset by glass’s weight. A single glass bottle can weigh 200-900g, compared to 20-30g for an equivalent PET bottle. This means that businesses using glass packaging often face higher total EPR costs than those using plastics, despite the lower rate per tonne.
For EPR background, see what packaging EPR is.
EPR Fee Rates for Glass
| Glass Type | Fee per tonne (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Clear (flint) glass | £192 |
| Green glass | £192 |
| Amber glass | £192 |
| Mixed colour glass | £192 |
Currently, all glass colours are charged at the same rate. Future modulation may differentiate by colour or format, as clear glass is more versatile in recycling.
For all material rates, see the EPR fees by material type guide.
Who Is Obligated?
Businesses using glass packaging are obligated under the standard EPR thresholds:
- Annual turnover of £1 million or more
- Handle 25 or more tonnes of packaging per year
Industries heavily reliant on glass packaging include:
- Wine and spirits — see our EPR for wine and spirits guide
- Food (jams, sauces, pickles, baby food) — see EPR for food packaging
- Drinks (soft drinks, beer, water) — see our EPR for drinks manufacturers guide
- Pharmaceuticals — see our EPR for pharmaceutical companies guide
- Cosmetics and perfumery — premium glass jars and bottles
For full threshold details, see who needs to register.
Common Glass Packaging Formats
| Format | Typical Weight | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Wine bottle (75cl) | 400-600g | Wine, spirits |
| Champagne bottle | 800-900g | Sparkling wine |
| Beer bottle (330ml) | 180-220g | Beer, cider |
| Spirit bottle (70cl) | 400-700g | Spirits |
| Food jar (small) | 130-200g | Jams, sauces |
| Food jar (large) | 300-500g | Pickles, pasta sauce |
| Cosmetic jar | 50-200g | Creams, serums |
| Medicine bottle | 80-150g | Pharmaceuticals |
| Candle jar | 200-400g | Home fragrance |
Why Glass Costs Add Up
Despite the low per-tonne rate, glass EPR costs accumulate because of the material’s inherent weight. Here is a comparison:
500ml Drinks Container Comparison
| Format | Unit Weight | EPR Fee Rate | EPR Cost per 1M Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass bottle | 250g | £192/t | £48,000 |
| PET bottle | 22g | £360/t | £7,920 |
| Aluminium can | 14g | £230/t | £3,220 |
Glass costs more than six times as much as PET for the same number of containers, and nearly fifteen times as much as aluminium cans, in total EPR fees.
This calculation is important for businesses choosing between packaging formats.
Reporting Glass Packaging
When reporting glass packaging through DEFRA’s RPD portal:
- Report total glass weight by colour category (clear, green, amber, mixed)
- Include closures separately — metal caps, plastic caps, and corks are not glass
- Include labels separately — paper or plastic labels on glass containers
- Report capsules and sleeves — aluminium foils, shrink sleeves
- Classify by packaging category — primary (the container), secondary (multi-pack), transit
Common Oversights
- Closures: A metal crown cap is steel or aluminium packaging — not glass
- Decorative glass: Glass with ceramic printing or applied colour coatings
- Sample bottles: Small promotional samples still count
- Broken glass in transit: Report the packaging as placed on the market, regardless of breakage
For reporting guidance, see how to report packaging data to DEFRA.
Reducing Glass EPR Costs
1. Lightweight Your Bottles
This is the most impactful strategy. Glass bottle weights vary enormously within the same format:
| Wine Bottle Style | Standard Weight | Lightweight | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgundy | 550g | 420g | 24% |
| Bordeaux | 480g | 380g | 21% |
| Prosecco | 850g | 750g | 12% |
Work with your glass supplier to specify the lightest bottle that meets your structural and aesthetic requirements.
2. Challenge “Premium Weight” Assumptions
Historically, heavy glass has been associated with quality. This perception is changing as sustainability becomes more important to consumers. Several premium brands have successfully moved to lighter glass without impacting sales.
3. Consider Format Changes
For some products, switching from glass to alternatives can dramatically reduce EPR costs:
- PET bottles for non-premium drinks
- Aluminium cans for carbonated drinks
- Pouches for sauces and condiments
- Tetra Pak for juices and dairy
4. Standardise Bottle Formats
Using a smaller range of bottle shapes allows you to negotiate better pricing from glass suppliers and simplify your EPR data collection.
5. Implement Refill/Return Systems
Refillable glass bottle systems (common in some European countries) are emerging in the UK. If bottles are genuinely returned and refilled, this can significantly reduce your EPR obligation.
DRS and Glass
The Deposit Return Scheme may cover glass drinks containers. If implemented:
- Glass drinks containers in DRS scope may be exempt from EPR fees
- You would instead pay DRS producer registration fees
- Non-drinks glass (food jars, cosmetic bottles) would remain under EPR
See our Deposit Return Scheme guide for the latest.
Getting Started
- Calculate your glass tonnage — this is usually straightforward (unit weight x units sold)
- Include all components — closures, labels, capsules are separate
- Register with a compliance scheme
- Submit data to DEFRA
- Investigate lightweight options for your highest-volume products
Use the EPR fee calculator and visit our pricing page.