Next article
UK Anti-Dumping Duty on Glass Imports from China: Advice and Support
The discussions at the show collected around particular topics of interest, with a particular focus on where regulation, material choice and sourcing are pulling brands in different directions at once.
PPWR came up more than any other single subject, perhaps unsurprisingly. Questions were being asked about the 2028 deadline for final recyclability percentages by weight, with one brand working to an earlier deadline of their own. Mixed-material pipettes and pumps were named repeatedly as the components causing the most difficulty, with brands actively looking to redesign closures away from mixed plastics.
More than one brand told us they were leaning on partners in their supply chain for interpretation, because guidance varies depending on who you ask. This is what our Define stage exists for, so specifications can keep abreast of current developments, and brands don't have to hold all of this alone.
The move away from virgin plastic continues, though brands are heading in different directions. Some are increasing PCR content in plastic, others are switching to glass and aluminium closures. Several start-ups were still explicitly anti-plastic - often these brands are a strong reflection of current consumer sentiment.
Bio-plastics and other plastic alternatives came up too, Woodly and Sulapac among them. Our conversations kept returning to the same concerns: practicality, sealing, stability, and how upcoming legislation will shape the options.
Refill was discussed, but with scepticism. Anecdotally it has had limited success in practice, sometimes because consumers still buy the full pack on repeat purchases, sometimes because the refill formats themselves haven't been considered practical enough in the past.
The current UK Government duties imposed to combat imported glass from China are causing many brands to look for stability in supply and pricing.
Cosmetic Glass BottlesDuty on Chinese glass imports came up as a live pricing concern for several. The UK government has introduced a provisional anti-dumping duty on Chinese glass containers as of 9th September, ranging from roughly 25% up to just under 53% depending on the exporter, after the Trade Remedies Authority found the goods were being dumped on the UK market and causing injury to UK industry. For accounts sourcing heavily from China, that's a real cost shift. Set against that, a few brands mentioned sourcing concerns around European manufacturing capacity which is one of the alternatives being looked to. It's a balance that hasn't settled yet, but a clear direction of travel to protect UK industry.
It was notable that brands have their eyes on the trends, with a particular focus on whether a swing back towards square-shouldered or angular designs will now begin, after several years of rounded shapes leading the market. Understanding how long-lasting the current curves trend is will be key to understanding how designs will develop through 2027 and into 2028.
In other design signals, both matt and gloss black dominated requests around closures, alongside frosted glass and gold and silver metallic pipettes, with our greige-coated glass range on the centre of our stand attracting a lot of comments for the colour's relevance in the current market.
Of course, none of this is a reason to chase whichever shape is fashionable. The brands getting it right are choosing corners, curves or specific finishes because the form suits their brand's ethos and promise, not because a trend forecast told them to.
