Following the publication of new EPR base fees last month – which are set to disproportionately impact glass – Ciner Glass has cancelled its plans to build a new glass bottling facility in South Wales.
Ciner Glass did not comment on EPR directly. Instead, the group explained that the decision followed an “extensive review of the commercial viability” of the plans, which revealed “significant changes in UK market demand”.
The group continued to say that they were seeking alternative investment projects on the same site in Blaenau Gwent.
Ciner explained it had made significant long-term investments in the UK and South Wales and “has already invested close to £20 million in the development of this project”.
Didem Ciner, chair of the board of Ciner Glass, said: “We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to the UK and Welsh Governments, as well as members of Blaenau Gwent County Council, for the support and engagement shown throughout the development of this project.”
Ciner continued: “We value the strong working relationships we have built and look forward to continuing these lines of engagement as we share new plans for our investment in Wales in due course.”
EPR and glass comments
More generally, the UK glass industry has expressed unhappiness at the new EPR fees, which are as follows: £461 for fibre-based composite, £423 for plastic, £280 for wood, £266 for aluminium, £259 for steel, £259 for other (including bamboo, ceramic, cork, copper, hemp, rubber), £196 for paper and card and £192 for glass.
On the new fees, Dr Nick Kirk, technical director of British Glass, said: “This small reduction in the glass fees is disappointing. To some degree, DEFRA has listened to our concerns, but brands and retailers will inevitably look to switch materials to reduce pEPR costs. The sector has already provided DEFRA with evidence of this. Measures like future recyclability-based fee modulation and Packaging Recovery Note reforms will come too late or do too little to fix the high pEPR fees on glass.”
A full EPR analysis is in the latest edition of Drinks Retailing.
