OI affiliate Karhulan Lasi, which makes glass containers at Kotka in Finland, believes that refillable beverage bottles will be replaced by non-refillable ones when the environmental tax on non-refillable bottles is abolished in 2008. Although canned beverages are becoming increasingly popular, Lasi is not afraid its business will suffer. Abolishing the tax is seen as more of an opportunity than a threat for glass packaging manufacturers; at present, all the beer bottles on the Finnish market are similar, but in future, breweries will be able to invest more in packaging design. Lasi's sales manager is of the opinion that, in the future, non-refillable bottles will be used for premium products, restaurants, & spirit-based products. If demand in Finland increases, the company will be able to reduce exports to less profitable markets.
