For those of us who work in the industry, the benefits of glass are obvious. We understand what an amazing material it is and why society would be a far poorer place without it in our everyday lives. However, there are some that say other materials can do a better job than glass, particularly when it comes to packaging for food and drink. In recent times, with depressing regularity it seems, yet another favourite on the supermarket shelf is no longer available in glass, and bids by the industry to try and persuade brand owners and retailers otherwise have fallen on deaf ears. So, in 2009 the container glass sector decided it was time to try a different approach and take matters into its own hands. The result was Friends of Glass - a forum to ensure consumers continue to choose glass packaging. This article explains the concept behind it, and its results so far.
