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What Will Affect Glass Bottle Availability in 2024?

What Will Affect Glass Bottle Availability in 2024?

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As we venture further into the promising yet unpredictable landscape of 2024, the wine and spirit industry faces unprecedented challenges that are set to disrupt the availability of glass bottles. Buckle up, because there may be turbulence to come.

What Factors Will Influence Glass Bottle Availability in 2024?

Government Duties Threaten Supply Chains

The United States International Trade Commission is likely to add duties to imports from overseas, particularly from Mexico, Chile, and China. This move is anticipated to disrupt supplies and inevitably escalate costs. The potential for increased duties adds an additional layer of complexity to an already intricate global supply chain.

Skyrocketing Freight Costs from Asia

It’s only February, and the freight costs from Asia have already doubled and European prices are beginning to follow suit. The surge is a consequence of a competitive rush to ship stocks to the United States. The heightened demand for imports, coupled with existing supply chain challenges, has led to a significant spike in transportation costs.

Domestic Glass Factories Attempt to Reduce Competition

Duties are a result of a few domestic glass factories suing the US commerce and trade commissions that import pricing is unfair. This is occurring while pricing is increasing on a frequent basis from the domestic suppliers. Not a good visual for an open market economy. In their quest to reduce competition, there will again be a glass shortage as we saw in 2021 and 2022 due to this harsh approach, exacerbating an already turbulent situation.

Understanding the Roots of the Crisis: A Look Back at 2020

In 2021, Global Package President and CEO, Erica Harrop, provided insights into similar challenges faced by the industry. The global labor shortage induced prior duties set in place in mid 2020 along with the pandemic, combined with disruptions in shipping, created a web of bottlenecks affecting every stage of the supply chain. 

The duties introduced in 2020 were over 40%, which combined with the 25% tariffs imposed the year prior caused a significant commotion for glass suppliers.

The demand for consumer goods surged, exacerbating the existing challenges. Rates soared as a result of container shortages, impacting freight costs and delivery timelines. While the 2020 duties were rescinded after a year, the 25% tariffs are still in place today. 

Harrop highlighted the importance of strategic planning and transparent communication during challenging times. “Our financial strength and established long-term relationships with suppliers in China, Europe, and here in the U.S. are enabling us to negotiate these many bottlenecks”. By working closely with reliable suppliers across China and Europe, Global Package initiated alternatives to improve production capacity and mitigate supply chain disruptions.

How Global Package is Meeting the Challenge of Glass Shortages in 2024 

As we brace for the challenges of 2024, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and adaptable. Global Package’s proactive approach, evident in our preparedness for the bottling season, serves as a model for navigating uncertainties. The importance of transparent communication, strategic partnerships, and a flexible supply chain cannot be overstated.

In a landscape where every decision reverberates globally, the resilience of the industry lies in collaboration, innovation, and foresight. As we navigate these stormy waters, the commitment to meeting customer expectations and deadlines remains paramount. It’s time to buckle up, stay informed, and adapt to ensure we can continue to provide a steady flow of high-quality wine and spirit glass bottles.

About Global Package

Global Package supplies high-end glass bottles to the wine and spirits markets across North America. Sourcing bottles from Europe, Asia and domestic markets, Global Package has an esteemed portfolio of bottles and packaging, specializing in sourcing and supplying glass, bottle customization, and speciality sourcing for small to large projects ensuring your product is presented affordably, effectively and professionally. Global Package has strategic alliances with innovative suppliers, designers and marketing collaborators both domestically and internationally, as well as stock across a local network of warehouses ready for dispatch.

Please contact our team with any queries you may have about our products or services. Fill out our contact form, email us at sales@globalpackage.net, or call us on +1 707 224-5670.

Dozens of container ships have been waiting to unload their goods in American ports

Staying Ahead of Supply Chain Disruptions

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Story originally published on Wine Industry Advisor by Dawn Dolan

Issues with the broken, or at best, limping along chain of supply have been a reality of life for wineries during the pandemic. It appears that trend is set to continue over the next year or two. The issue is not specific to one particular item, but cuts across the gamut of wine industry products, from wine glass, to tanks, barrels and amphorae. Delays are caused by issues in Europe, Asia, and here at home with our own port back-ups and transportation issues plaguing the USA as well.

Erica Harrop, President of Global Package, LLC, says it is, “Currently impossible to anticipate how long it will take [items ordered] to arrive.” She says it is a compound problem, with a lot of moving parts. “Shipping lines moved from China to Europe due to high tariffs, and during the pandemic, but now ports on the west coast, in particular Port of Oakland, are so backed up, European container ships don’t want to come here.” According to the Port of Oakland website, only 16% of overall cargo they handle is coming from Europe.

Daniel Moore, of Wine IQ, says the backup can go even further back. “We are waiting on raw materials,” he states. “There are rail strikes, shipping space issues; everything is so backed up. I don’t think anyone has ever seen the supply chain in such disarray.”

Given the energy issues created by the war in Eastern Europe, glass factories across Europe are working much more slowly, as energy is limited. “Freight may then sit waiting at a port or railyard for up to twelve weeks due to administrative issues,” says Harrop. “There is too much disorganization at the ports, too many containers, and not enough labor,” she stresses. The best advice she offers to wineries is to order wine glass at least six months ahead.

Dozens of container ships have been waiting to unload their goods in American ports

Dozens of container ships have been waiting to unload their goods in American ports / Alexander Kliem / Pixabay

Moore is in agreement. “A lot of the winery mentality is behind the mark, and they haven’t adapted to the new normal,” he notes gently. “Before, when something went wrong, there was always another option. Now that’s not true.”

Moore’s website for Wine IQ offers an “order by” counter, so clients know when to order tanks, barrels and amphorae, which all come from Europe. “Basically, now they [wineries] need to order in the first quarter for Fall delivery,” says Moore, for any of those storage-related items.

Additionally, according to Moore, there is no projecting how high freight costs will go. “What used to be a $4,000 container, went up to $14,000 a container.” Moore is a consulting winemaker and says empathetically, “I’ve been a winemaker on the other side of this, waiting for product. It’s frustrating.”

Sadly, notes Harrop, “We have no idea what the freight is going to cost us until we get the bill.” She knows that wineries wanting to order glass ahead are not able to plan for the cost per bottle, as there is no such thing as “locking in” shipping rates at this point. Freight is such a moving target, subject to many pressures, and there is just no guarantee.

However, there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel, if it is a bit far away and dim right now. “Costs are starting to stabilize. 2023 should be better than 2022, and 2024 should be much better,” observes Harrop optimistically.

Harrop notes that in this climate of delays, planning ahead is key to successfully receiving your wine glass or whatever your order is, in a timely fashion. “People will have to be flexible and understanding,” she says. “Please be kind to your supplier!”

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

 

 

The Supply Cloud is Lifting by Erica Harrop

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Thankfully, it appears that better times are ahead as supplies from our domestic glass suppliers are coming back on track. Additionally, we are seeing costs from our Asian suppliers also coming back in line. These positive trends have reinvigorated all of us at Global Package: A stronger supply side of our business means that our customers will again see high-quality products arrive on time. Coupled with our well-known hands-on quality service, we again assure customers of excellent care and attention.

The past few years have been especially difficult in securing freight from overseas. With that bottleneck loosening and now with domestic supplies becoming available again we strongly believe we are “back in the saddle” and well-positioned to ride out any remaining glass supply issues.

Our mission has always been to provide timely and experience-backed solutions so our customers have a partner that is looking out for their best interests. Over the many decades we’re been in business we’ve gained our customers’ trust. We intend to continue to expand that message throughout the wine industry.

It has been gratifying to witness the incredible hard work all of our wineries have undertaken over the extraordinarily difficult past five years. We remain committed to partner with our customers to make sure we all make it through any further challenges in the years to come.
As always, we encourage you to contact us for your glass packaging needs.

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

 

 

 

 

Hats Off to NapaGreen for its Recent Sustainability Conference by Erica Harrop

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I was a guest speaker at NapaGreen’s Conference last week, presenting at the workshop “All Things Bottle Sustainability.” The conference featured several workshops on sustainability, with the last in the series this upcoming Friday, April 29th on “All Things Soil Sustainability.” I was proud to participate in the series and to support this important organization (www.napagreen.org), which focuses on building a more sustainable wine industry.

As I’ve written about before, our industry’s continued success will depend on our ability to combat climate change by reducing our impact on the environment, including developing and utilizing better farming, production and, yes, packaging practices. My workshop focused on achievable ways we can manufacture and package wine bottles while reducing our carbon footprint and, at the same time, continuing to innovate quality and design.

My company, Global Package LLC, has a long history of working with glass manufacturing partners around the world who have led efforts in sustainability. Therefore, my presentation focused on several ecological factors that impact the glass wine bottle. Glass weight, of course, is a top consideration when it comes to shipping, storing, and displaying wine bottles. I offered the example of our Elegant Light™ bottles, which are made with less glass and, thus, are lighter weight, resulting in considerable savings in transportation costs. In fact they are up to 20% less expensive to ship than standard bottles.

In addition, we’ve found that it’s 10 times more efficient to transport product via water than by overland trucking and 17 times more efficient than by airfreight.

Also, recent developments in the effort to decrease greenhouse gas emissions have led the Europeans and Chinese to tighten environmental controls, passing laws over the past several years to reduce sulfur in fuel. In total, according to a recent LCA- Life Cycle Assessment, there is small energy impact from the transport of glass packaging.

On the manufacturing front, it takes 1.8 tons of raw material to produce one ton of glass. Cullet, which is recycled glass, can be added in varying amounts to decrease these raw materials. Recycled cullet is critical to reduce raw material use, pollutants, and even transportation costs.

Several years ago Global Package introduced to the US market Wild Glass™, an innovative line of bottles from Spain’s Estal. These bottles are not only works of art, they are comprised of almost 100% cullet recycled glass, thus making them the most sustainable bottles on the market.

Every Wild Glass™ bottle is unique, since the manufacturing process allows bubbles, orange peel, coloring line imperfections and color variations to remain. The resulting aesthetic is an organic design similar to hand blown glass, but with all the efficiencies of automatic glass production. Because these cosmetic imperfections are not only acceptable, but also desirable, fewer bottles are rejected, reducing from 25% to 15% the discard rate at the factory.

The sustainability factor is also impressive because 100% of Wild Glass™ is made from PCR (Post Consumer Recycling) material, which comes from recycling centers. Therefore, its fusion of recycled glass production uses less energy. The PCR content means less extraction of virgin raw materials in production.

All of us at Global Package are grateful to Napa Green’s leadership in promoting and developing sustainable practices in our industry. We’d like to help promote their upcoming “Napa THRIVES” six-event series June 7 – 23. Here’s a link to the series: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/june-7-23-napa-thrives-six-event-series-tickets-289015863227

           Let’s all continue to support this essential organization!

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

Good News About Bad Actors by Erica Harrop, CEO Global Package

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After reading a recent piece in the trade newsletter, www.retailleader.com , I was encouraged to learn that the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and the FBI have launched an initiative to “deter, detect, and prosecute those who would exploit the supply chain disruptions.” This has led to the “formation of a working group with global partners, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Canadian Competition Bureau, the New Zealand Commerce Commission and the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority.”

It’s appalling that there are companies and individuals who are taking advantage of the supply chain situation created post-Covid, and are lining their own pockets by fixing prices and overcharging customers. But it is good news that the government will track down and prosecute these bad actors. However, we are still bedeviled by stalled ships and late shipments, ratcheting up a future of higher prices for everything.

A recent review of my daily shipping logs confirms this. Particularly interesting in a recent log is the Drifting vs Anchor vs Arrived ships. Dates for ETAs are surreal as they are past due, and delays are 30 to 45 days beyond scheduled arrival date. The Drifting category is why none of us know what to expect. Unfortunately, I believe these Issues are likely to last a long while, probably up to the end of the year.

International experts expect similar long-lasting supply chain bottlenecks. While the German publication Wein.plus Wine Magazine recently assessed the 2022 outlook for the international wine industry as positive, they said it with this important caveat: “…cost increases and supply chain disruptions are perceived as a threat.” ((https://magazine.wein.plus/news/). Now, of course, we have the Russia-Ukraine conflict added to the threats.

On another front, industry analysts say that climate change and stricter environmental regulations are concerning producers even more than trade issues, believing they will have a much longer and more profound impact on the health of the industry.
So what to do? Since the beginning of the pandemic—even long before—we at Global Package initiated and solidified partnerships, both domestic and international, to ensure our manufacturers and suppliers are allied in a supportive, strong, sustainable, and close-knit network of resources for us.

A primary example of these strong relationships is Estal, a glass customization specialist, with which we have worked for years and which has consistently led with innovative designs and production practices. Pre-pandemic, Estal introduced its beautiful and ecological Wild Glass™ line of bottles to an enthusiastic US and international market. These bottles are 100% sustainable “real cycled” glass bottles that are one-of-a-kind, since slight imperfections in the natural formation of the glass are allowed to remain, while retaining all the manufacturing positives of automated glass, much like organic handmade art. Estal’s process also doesn’t discard bottles with cosmetic defects, which reduces the discard rate from 25% to 15%.

Global Package also offers Estal’s Sommelier Mouth (SM) bottles, which feature an anti-drip barrier and groove guides to facilitate a clean, straight cut of the capsule. The line includes the Essentia Burgundy, Bordeaux, and fluted Espiga bottles. All are available in Flint, Wild Glass, and Antique options.

And further addressing environmental concerns, Global Package has in stock the full line of Elegant Light™ bottles, lighter weight bottles that result in more economical and ecological shipping, and which come in the full range of classical shapes and colors.
Yes, these are trying times. But working with a trusted and competent supplier will help relieve the stress of uncertainty. We invite you to learn more about all that Global Package has to offer.

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

Globalization Affects Us All by Erica Harrop, CEO Global Package

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Next week we will be exhibiting in Booth #941 at this year’s Unified Show, January 25-27 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento. But as we prepare for the show, I’d like to share some thoughts.

It’s clear that supply chain challenges are still with us, casting a renewed spotlight on globalization and its impact on each one of us in the wine and spirits industry. It’s a big topic that most in the industry have spent little time thinking about, at least prior to the pandemic. But the realities of globalization have been Global Package’s continual focus since our founding, pushing us to continuously find the best partners with the best packaging and logistics solutions to advance our industry segments with enhanced creativity and innovation.

I recently reviewed a December 7, 2015 article in the Advertising Age Journal entitled “How to Manage Marketing When ‘Think Globally, Act Locally’ Isn’t Enough.” In the article the author discusses global business marketing and defines globalization as “coherence, reliability, and certainty, while addressing universal truths.” This prompted me to reflect on how worldwide sourcing has changed our prior perceptions and understandings.

All of us at Global Package believe that finding good partners and developing relationships is what globalization is all about; it is the crux of the concept. Whether your business is working with a supplier around the corner or across the seas, having that ‘coherence, reliability, and certainty’ is essential to a successful relationship.

Unfortunately, over the past two years the pandemic has strained many supplier-partner relationships. However, Global Package’s solid relationships with domestic and overseas partners have enabled us to keep our focus on reliability and creativity at the same time. While supply chain challenges continue, we are always receiving excellent up-to-date information from our partners here and abroad, enabling us to expeditiously fulfill our clients’ expectations and orders.

So we invite you to visit our Booth #941 at Unified. On display, you’ll find an impressive array of lightweight and beautifully shaped specialty bottles, as well as our sustainable Wild Glass™ bottles and our anti-drip Sommelier Mouth (SM) line.

Our entire sales staff, on both East and West coasts, will be on hand to help and to answer any questions you may have.

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

Global Package: Meeting Shipping and Glass Shortage Challenges

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Global Package LLC President and CEO, Erica Harrop, has announced that despite the chaos in global shipping and short supplies in glass her company is still meeting customer expectations and deadlines. “These are scary times for the industry,” says Harrop , “but our financial strength and established long-term relationships with suppliers in China, Europe, and here in the U.S. are enabling us to negotiate these many bottlenecks, which are a result of many factors.”

Those factors have converged to impact every aspect of supplying the industry. First, was Covid-19, which forced workers to stay home, creating a global labor shortage. In fact, new outbreaks and closures in China are threatening an early recovery. A piece on the TricorBraun website explains:

“A significant increase in demand for consumer goods coincided with labor and capacity shortages due to the pandemic and has caused a situation of intertwined bottlenecks of port congestion, vessel shortages, equipment shortages, chassis shortages, rail shortages, and truck shortages. There is not enough capacity to move cargo in need of transportation.”

Another good article, in Bloomberg Business, adds that rates are being driven to record highs as a result of a dearth of containers:
“Trying to make all those deliveries on time meant that many vessels started making their return journeys empty, saving a few precious hours that would normally be spent picking up vacant boxes to ship back to China. That’s resulted in a glut of containers in European and North American ports and a shortage in Asia, pushing freight rates to astronomical levels on export routes. Those high prices — and the sharp differentials with the cost on the return route — can be seen as price signals that will push the industry to rebalance itself.

The factors that have driven Asia-Europe container rates to record levels of more than $10,000 per 40-foot box aren’t simply a temporary coordination problem. Returning to a semblance of normality could take years.”

According to Harrop, while these factors are influencing pricing and delivery, Global Package has been able work around many of these issues by working with dependable suppliers who are on the front lines in China and Europe and who are initiating alternatives to loosen bottlenecks and improve production capacity, as well as opening up domestic supplies.
“It’s important for us to be as transparent as possible during these trying times,” says Harrop. “Global package anticipated many of the Covid-related shortages prior to the Suez and other shipping obstacle in the past year. So we increased our inventory—and continue to regularly ship from Europe—to now have in place supplies for our wineries and distilleries that can meet seasonal needs. In short, Global Package is proud to be one of the most flexible glass suppliers in America.”

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Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

WBM’s “Savvy Packaging” Article Describes Exactly – What Global Packaging Is All About – By Erica Harrop

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I read with interest the Wine Business Monthly piece in the April issue, “Savvy Packaging Makes Budget-Price Wines Appear a Great Value,” because the points raised precisely describe in important aspect of Global Package’s mission …packaging that’s both exceptional and economical. A prime example is our Elegant Light™ line of bottles: they are lighter weight, thus reducing shipping costs, and come in classic shapes and colors, thus reinforcing a high-quality perception for brands.

Another example is our wide selection of pewter and gold-foil labels, which were mentioned by Affinity Creatives’ Ed Rice in the article: “The value consumer actually appreciates some of these extra design cues …such as gold coloring, a crest or even a cartouche.” You can save with a lighter-weight bottle and still add considerable shelf appeal with a judicious use of decoration and a quality-embuing label. Global Package’s decades-long partnership with pewter label maker, Etiq’Etains—the French manufacturer that is known worldwide for innovative and beautiful tin, pewter, labels—gives us important leverage when purchasing pewter, tin, and gold-foil labels.

Pewter Labels

These custom self-adhesive labels are supple and are easily applied as either single pieces or supplied on a reel, both with self-adhesive backing. You can choose pewter labels in three distinct categories—Natural (silver), Luxury (gold, bronze, copper), and Modern (many colors, including blue, red, yellow, green, brown, black). And they can be 2-dimensional designs in relief or hollow; 3-dimensional sculptural patterns, total metalizing designs, or metalizing motifs in relief. They can be applied to any surface, including glass, ceramic, even wood and cardboard, and they are lead-free and come in a range of styles and colors to help products stand out on the shelf. They are a great way to customize a lower-cost bottle in smaller runs.

Custom crests were also mentioned in the article, which is another way to boost the perception of high quality, as do cartouches and medallions. Global Package’s long-term alliances with bottle suppliers enable us to add these decorative enhancements at reasonable prices. So don’t make the mistake of thinking these touches are too expensive. They can be cost-effective when everything is factored in.

Finally, larger fonts were suggested in the article as a way to grab attention. We offer another, more provocative suggestion …a unique bottle shape. Check out our website

(www.globalpackage.net) for recent bottle innovations like Estal’s DobleAlto™ and the Sommelier Mouth bottles. It you’re looking for further inspiration, our Wild Glass™ line combines sustainability with a gorgeous aesthetic for a truly unique look.

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Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

International Shipping Chaos Drives Bottle Supply into Tailspin

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Napa, CA  March 2, 2021 – Recent news about market uncertainties and European shipping and port chaos is a real issue for glass suppliers, many of whom are scrambling for product. Not Global Package LLC. Having planned well in advance, Global Package has fully stocked warehouses and is well prepared to fill orders.

“These shipping concerns have been simmering since November and now are impacting supplies around the world,” says Harrop. “But we have worked hard over the past pandemic year to bring classic and innovative European bottles and ecologically featured Chinese bottles into our warehouses to be prepared for this year’s bottling season.”

According to European industry reports, blank sailings, delays in departures, shortages of equipment, and lack of room on vessels are exacerbating timely deliveries. Even the more stable markets like North and South America have been affected, sources report.

“While glass from abroad may be more difficult to acquire going forward, we always plan ahead to procureenough product to meet upcoming seasonal needs,” Harrop assures. “Given our 35-year history and all the procurement channels we have established and are available to us, our warehouses are fully stocked with a broad range of bottles in every shape and color.”

Included in the stock offerings are Estal’s beautiful 100% recycled Wild Glass, the revolutionary Sommelier Mouth, and the podium-designed DobleAlto ®

bottles, as well as the new line of bottles specifically designed for Vinolok’s 100% recyclable and sustainably produced glass closure.  Harrop stresses:  “Our trained staff is standing ready to help you select the right bottle for your brand and budget. Call today!”

Global Package’s Wild Glass Answers Sustainability and Landfill Issues

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Study after study has proved that consumers prefer glass over other packaging materials for several reasons: Because it is aesthetically pleasing, is virtually inert and doesn’t interact with the food or beverage it holds, and because it is recyclable.

Global Package has a long tradition of promoting glass in the wine and spirits industries for these very reasons. Our latest collection of Wild Glass, produced by Estal Packaging, is 100% sustainable “real cycled” and boasts a production process that is both efficient and ecologically sustainable. It utilizes only post-consumer recycled glass collected from municipalities and its production method uses lowerfuel consumption, resulting in a reduction of CO2 as well as less extraction of virgin material.

Importantly, glass addresses the sustainability issue that today’s consumers are demanding. According to a 2019 article in Chemical & Engineering News:

“Glass can be recycled endlessly by crushing, blending, and melting it together with sand and other starting materials. Doing so benefits manufacturers, the environment, and consumers. Yet each year only one-third of the roughly 10 million metric tons of glass that Americans throw away is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills. In contrast, some European countries recycle more that 90% of their glass. US glass trade groups (such as Owens-Illinois) are working to boost these numbers.”  

In addition, a recent report by Owens-Illinois reveals that waste management companies in North America and around the world are running out of landfill space, a growing problem now that China is no longer accepting our trash. In a recent article in American Recycler entitled “Landfill Space Continues to Decline” author Maura Keller reports that “the future of landfills looks bleak” and estimates that we have less than two decades before landfills in the US reach capacity, with single-use plastics in the form of beverage containers, take out containers, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles and similar items contributing the lion’s share.

As landfills grow in short supply, glass packaging becomes an increasingly vital component to reaching America’s aggressive sustainable goals. Here’s more from American Recycler:

“Haulers and others will be disincentivized to put obvious recyclables like glass in landfills, and we’ll see a broader harmonizing of our waste management and recycling policies to further disincentivize putting recyclables in landfills …At the same time, glass-only curbside collection and/or alternate collection systems will become the predominant collection method boosting glass collection in the U.S. to 50 percent by 2030.”

In other words, waste management companies will increasingly force consumers to recycle their glass containers, not toss them into landfill collection bins, so the sustainable value of glass grows exponentially. Global Package’s line of Wild Glass is the most sustainable glass on the market. Additionally, each of thesebottles is truly unique since the production process allows for slight imperfections in the natural formation of the glass to remain, making each bottle an aesthetic one-of-a-kind work of art. As important, the manufacturing process retains all the benefits of automation. Tests run by Estal, our glass partners in Europe, have shown a significant reduction in the discard rate since the process doesn’t discard bottles with these slight cosmetic imperfections. It’s a win-win …100% sustainability and gorgeous quality design.

As Global Package continues to work with leaders in the glass industry to find solutions to the landfill and recycling concerns, we are proud to offer the full line of Wild Glass, which is now inventoried here in California. Global Package (www.globalpackage.net) is located at 2793 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa, CA 94558 and can be reached at 707-224-5670.