In 2011, glass packaging continued to ride the wave of several trends that have been impacting the North American marketplace in recent years. Consumers have placed greater emphasis on greener packaging and healthier products. Glass container manufacturers have been responsive to these demands, resulting in innovative designs, light weight packages and the rediscovery of the virtues of glass by many established brands. In the USA, the glass container industry operates 48 glass manufacturing plants in 22 States. In terms of market segments, 57% of glass containers manufactured domestically are for the beer industry, followed by food (18%), non-alcoholic beverages (8%), wine (8%), liquor (4%), ready-to-drink (4%) and cosmetics, fragrances and pharmaceuticals (1%). This article considers the outlook for glass packaging in the year ahead.
