A deposit return scheme which includes glass will prompt brands to switch to plastic packaging, say glassmakers. It follows the Scottish Government's announcement to include glass packaging in a deposit return scheme (DRS). In response, the UK glass manufacturing sector aid this will lead to brands switching to plastic packaging. The glass industry also expressed its disappointment that industry and retailer views were overlooked. The concern follows statements from Iceland, The Scottish Retail Consortium and the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, who said glass packaging whoud be excluded from the design of a DRS scheme to avoid estimated running costs of £50m. Experts have argued that including glass in a DRS would decrease the current UK glass collection rate of 67%. British Glass said the increased costs for including glass to retailers and brand owners will encourage a switch from glass to alternative packaging materials, meaning even more plastic will be on the market.
