UK supermarkets are misleading consumers over pricing according to an episode of the BBC’s Panorama programme aired in December. Panorama found that consumers were being charged more for larger ‘value packs’ than the equivalent in smaller packaging. For example, the BBC found a one kilogram pack of margarine spread cost £3.20 at one supermarket, more than double the cost of two 500 gram packs at £1.50 each. At another supermarket, the same 500 gram packages were £1 each, compared to a cost of £3.70 for the one kilogram ‘value’ pack.
All of the supermarkets interviewed denied deliberately misleading consumers. However, the BBC found 17 examples of this type of pricing within 13 kilometres of the presenter’s home.
The findings make the Friends of Glass wonder about the supermarkets’ claims that glass is more expensive than other packaging materials. Many UK supermarkets are forcing manufacturers to switch to plastics, citing the additional environmental cost of transporting glass. However, they simply ignore the total emissions over the lifecycle of each packaging material. When these are taken into account, glass is far ahead of the competition.
The supermarkets are also ignoring the opinions of their customers. A survey carried out by InSites and published in May 2011 found that glass remains the consumers’ preference for food and drinks. In the UK alone, the survey found that 64% of respondents choose glass packaging for a special occasion beverage. When asked why they prefer glass, 38% of UK consumers mentioned that glass preserves the taste of the food or drink better than other materials. Longevity of the packaged product was cited as a reason for choosing glass by 30% of UK consumers, while 29% mentioned that their favourite brands were in glass packaging.
Is glass packaging also your number one? Then let’s pass a clear message to manufacturers and supermarkets that glass packaging needs to come back and stay for good. Because it’s up to all of us to question policies and raise awareness on this issue. So time to send out some letters. Are you in? :-)
If you like to enjoy a hot drink on your journey to work in the morning, take a look at these stunning double-walled glass bottles. Aquaovo specifically thought of tea drinkers when developing their flask. Simply place your tea in the space under the lid, and add boiling water to the container. When you are ready for a fresh brew, just invert the bottle to mix the water with the tea leaves. Stylish, practical and brewed perfectly to your taste!
The double-wall of glass helps to insulate the liquids inside, keeping them warmer (or colder) for longer than containers made from other materials. The outer layer of glass stays at room temperature, ensuring the bottle is easy to hold and preventing condensation from forming. And as they are made of glass, the contents are not tainted by the packaging.
The bottles produced by Silodesign are designed more for the table. Cold drinks, hot sauces, or even soup can be stylishly served from these beautiful containers. And the contents will taste just as the chef intended!
Petr Spatina spent his early life playing the accordion and the piano, before discovering a love for the glass harp. In 2010 he amazed viewers of an Austrian talent show with his self-developed 33-glass harp on which he plays music ranging from classical to pop.
Car-maker ŠKODA saw Spatina on the talent show and asked him to perform a piece of music for the ad that would introduce the new ŠKODA Superb. Watch and be amazed as Spatina plays the 597 crystal glasses that make up his Superb-shaped glass harp!
Packaging which showcases a product’s sustainability credentials is more likely to attract the attention of consumers according to research from The Big Picture, a UK-based design research agency. The Big Picture found that shopper’s reject products with more rational designs, even if they do have the best environmental credentials.
Based on a series of in-depth interviews with consumers, the agency found that consumers judged products negatively if they perceived them as having unnecessary packaging or using materials which are not friendly to the environment. In these cases, consumers were not influenced by recycle-friendly logos or other claims on the packaging.
The research got us wondering what factors influence you when you are making a purchase decision? Is price or the packaging material more important? Do you read all of the environmental information on a label, or do you simply select products based on your perception of the packaging material? Let us know what you think by voting on the Friends of Glass Facebook page!
To celebrate the company’s 140th anniversary, Dutch brewer Heineken has launched a global competition to find a new design for their iconic bottle. The winning design will symbolise how people around the world will connect in the next 140 years.
The competition requires you to design one half of a bottle. You then select a complimentary design from Heineken’s Facebook gallery to complete the other half. The best combination will be judged the winner and will feature in a limited edition gift pack which will be available from December in the 175 countries where Heineken is sold.
But you need to hurry as entries close on 31 January! Take a look at the video for more information and don’t forget to share your designs on the Friends of Glass Facebook page.
The Friends of Glass True to Taste Competition is back and this year it is even easier to win! We’re giving away a copy of the unique Friends of Glass Recipe Book to the 30 best ‘glass recipes’ we receive. The only conditions: your drink or dish must be stored or served in glass and we must receive your entry by 31 January. How simple is that?
A jury of glass enthusiasts will decide on the 30 best entries, each of which will receive a copy of the Friends of Glass Recipe Book. They’re looking for tasty ideas that look good in glass. Big hint: a ‘glassy’ photo of your recipe will help your chances greatly!
The best entries will be featured on the Friends of Glass website. To get you started, why not take a look at the True to Taste gallery for some inspiration!
Most energy drinks come in garish colours that are more at home on the sports field than the table. Simply because they’re generally not considered “tableready” for exclusive venues such as hotels, restaurants and clubs. Well, not any more! New York beverage maker OSO has given us a sneak preview of the new glass bottles which will see its premium energy drink adding class to high-end bars and tables around the world.
OSO comes in two flavours: Gold and White Gold. Both use all-natural ingredients and lightly carbonated spring water from a source in the Austrian Alps. The herb Stevia provides natural sweetness for the lighter White Gold formula, without the calories of sugar.
The simple but elegant design of the glass bottle reflects the pristine clarity of the drink, its natural content and premium stature.
Fouad Kallamni, president of Premier Beverage Group, believes in the future of OSO: “Our new packaging sets us apart from the cluttered mainstream energy drink category by providing a premium, glass-bottle design that discerning customers will be glad to enjoy.”
So tell us, what do you think of this new packaging design? Share your opinion on our Facebook page!
On a cold winters day there can be nothing more comforting than having your hands wrapped around a glass containing a hot toddy! And nothing clears up a head cold quicker than a hot toddy made with rum.
For those that have never come across the term hot toddy – we mean any warm drink made with alcohol and fruit and served in glass. German Glühwein is an example, though hot toddys are usually made with something stronger than wine.
Jassy Davis, a true Friend of Glass and owner of the Gin and Crumpets blog, has some great recipes you can try over the holidays using leftover spirits. Our personal favourite is the gin and lemongrass hot toddy pictured here, but Jassy has lots of alternative suggestions. Why not share some of your creations over at our Facebook page or at the Friends of Glass website.
Beatson Clark, a UK-based producer of glass packaging solutions, has launched a new website which showcases the health and environmental benefits of glass. The site is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to know more about how glass is produced and its environmental impact.
For Beatson Clark’s customers, the site showcases the glass bottle and jar solutions available. The company also offers a design service for clients who require glass packaging that will stand-out from the competition.
“Consumer demand for products packaged in glass is growing,” explains Charlotte Taylor, Marketing Manager for Beatson Clark. “With glass being 100% infinitely recyclable and totally inert, it is a healthy and sustainable product that helps to minimise the effect of packaging on the environment. We wanted our new website to illustrate these advantages so consumers and brand owners are more aware of just how remarkable glass is as a packaging form.”
One of the joys of the festive season is the array of yummy food that we get to try. But have you ever worried that your bin is as full as you are? UK website Love Food, Hate Waste estimates that 7.2 million tonnes of food are wasted each year in the UK alone. Reducing that to zero would save as much carbon dioxide as removing one in five cars off the country’s roads. The problem is so bad that the European Union’s Agriculture Committee has called on member countries to halve food waste by 2025.
One of the easiest things we can all do to reduce our food waste is to buy foodstuffs in glass. Why? Well firstly, glass containers are usually easy to reseal. You can just use as much as you need, refrigerating the leftovers until you need them. Glass is also impermeable to air, ensuring that any food you store in the glass container will be kept fresh for longer.
UK supermarkets are misleading consumers over pricing according to an episode of the BBC’s Panorama programme aired in December. Panorama found that consumers were being charged more for larger ‘value packs’ than the equivalent in smaller packaging. For example, the BBC found a one kilogram pack of margarine spread cost £3.20 at one supermarket, more than double the cost of two 500 gram packs at £1.50 each. At another supermarket, the same 500 gram packages were £1 each, compared to a cost of £3.70 for the one kilogram ‘value’ pack.
