Glass packaging helps minimise food waste, say industry experts

Glass industry experts are calling for more widespread use of glass packaging for food and drink products, in a bid to preserve product freshness and minimise food waste.

The suggestions come after the UK’s first Fresher for Longer conference and a new food waste research report by World Bank last month.

Experts have been emphasising the role that glass packaging can play in reducing food waste, pointing out that its impermeability gives it a natural ability to preserve the freshness of food and beverages.

In addition, they say the inert properties of glass eliminate the need for additional chemical layers, making it a naturally safe and healthy packaging material.

The European glass container industry consumer forum Friends of Glass has been supporting the use of glass in food packaging and storage, and is now calling for wider awareness of the benefits of glass among food producers and brands.

Friends of Glass UK spokeswoman and British Glass container affairs head Rebecca Cocking said that there are many reasons to opt for glass packaging, including better taste, better preservation and better recyclability.

Cocking added, "By helping reduce the amount of food waste, glass packaging also has an important role to play in reducing harmful greenhouse gases that arise from food waste sent to landfill.

"What’s more, because it looks good, consumers are more likely to reuse glass packaging. But when there’s no longer a use for the container, glass can be recycled indefinitely with no loss of quality."