Glass packaging

Solid, transparent, recyclable: glass continues to stand out as one of the most valued solutions in the packaging industry. Analysis by the Italian Institute of Packaging based on data provided by Assovetro 

Barbara Iascone

The analysis of the glass packaging sector, encompassing both hollow and tubular glass, reveals an industry moving towards new frontiers of efficiency and sustainability.
Hollow glass – the type used in the manufacture of bottles, jars, and pharmaceutical containers – remains the undisputed leading material. This breakdown, also adopted in the Packaging in Figures report in collaboration with Assovetro, reflects the wide range of applications of a material employed across the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
Alongside it, tubular glass represents a more technical, yet equally significant, niche. Primarily used in the pharmaceutical sector, it is employed in the production of ampoules and vials, essential components for the safe storage of sensitive products and medicines.

Industry data

In 2024, over 4,500,000 million tonnes of glass packaging were used, more than 97% of which was destined for the food sector. The remaining share, around 3%, was mainly distributed between the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors.
According to the analysis published in the Packaging in Figures report (Italian Institute of Packaging, 2025 edition, based on Assovetro data), in 2024 the production of empty glass packaging, expressed in tonnes, fell to 4,302,000 million tonnes, marking a decrease of 3.3%. This outcome was influenced by several factors: on one hand, the contraction of certain end-use sectors, and on the other, the trend – also driven by regulations – towards lighter packaging. This practice, particularly significant for glass, inevitably affects the total production volumes. Another factor, likely to have an even greater impact in the future, is the growing use of returnable packaging (industrial reuse), a trend expected to gain momentum, especially with the implementation of the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Foreign trade also experienced a challenging year: exports of glass packaging fell by 6.7%, while imports declined by 5.6%. Apparent consumption, which excludes changes in stock levels, decreased by 3.5%.
Italy’s trade balance remains negative, as the apparent consumption of glass bottles exceeds domestic production.
Finally, according to Istat analyses, turnover also fell by 1.8%, in line with the decrease in production.

Beverages: glass in a leading role

In categories such as sparkling wine and spirits, glass bottles remain the sole packaging format on the market – a mark of quality, prestige, and tradition. For wine and beer alike, glass maintains a clear predominance over other materials, establishing itself as the packaging of choice for products that prioritise both image and preservation.
Within the beverage sector, 12.7% of glass production is destined for soft drinks, while alcoholic beverages account for approximately 61.1% of the market.

Food: from preserves to condiments

Glass continues to play a leading role across other food segments as well. Condiments account for approximately 6.5% of usage, while tomato derivatives represent around 7.7%. Canned and preserved foods – including baby food, ready-made sauces, and prepared meals – make up a further 7.5%, followed by the “other food” category, which includes products such as jams, spreads, honey and spices, accounting for 1.8% of the market.

The allure of glass in cosmetics

Outside the food sector, the cosmetics industry accounts for a notable 2.7% of glass usage. Here, glass is synonymous with prestige and perceived quality, used predominantly for alcoholic perfumes and increasingly for high-end skincare and cream packaging. The material provides elegance, protection, and recyclability – qualities that are ever more valued by today’s consumers. On its ow, the cosmetics sector represents 1.9% of total glass packaging usage.

Bottle production

In 2024, bottles accounted for 85.7% of the empty glass packaging sector, recording a decline of 5.1% compared to 2023. Imports also fell by 8.5%, while exports closed the year down 7.2% year-on-year. Apparent consumption, which excludes changes in inventory, declined by 5.6%.
Of the bottles produced, 70.4% were destined for the alcoholic beverages market, showing a slight decrease compared to 2023. The share allocated for the non-alcoholic beverages market, including milk, accounted for around 14.4% of the sector in 2024. It is precisely in this segment that a pro-glass trend is emerging, driven both by soft drinks and the dairy market.
The tomato derivatives sector (purees and ketchup) accounted for 10.5%, while 4.7% were destined to the condiments segment.
As for the actual usage of glass bottles (i.e. bottles filled and placed on the market), over 4,440,000 tonnes were estimated for 2024, representing an increase compared with 2023. This contrasts sharply with production trends, suggesting that stock inventories were likely utilised to meet demand.

Glass jar production

Empty glass jars (yet to be filled) accounted for 8.7% of total glass packaging production and recorded a remarkable increase of 24.6% in 2024. Both imports (+17.4%) and exports (+40%) grew, although the majority of production is destined for the domestic market. Actual usage of glass jars in 2024 remained broadly stable, with a slight increase of 0.4% compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 476,000 tonnes.
This segment is divided into various product categories. The most significant is vegetable preserves and ready-made sauces, which in 2024 accounted for 59.6% of the total. The “other food” category, holding a 16.9% share, includes products such as canned fruit, olives, corn, spices, jams, spreads, yogurt, and similar items.
Sauces represent 7.3% of glass jars used, followed by baby food (homogenised products) at 5.1%. The canned fish segment (tuna, anchovy fillets, mackerel, etc.) covers 4.7%, while tomato derivatives account  3.6%. The remaining 2.8% is destined for the non-food market, mainly cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Flaconnage

Focusing on empty glass packaging, flaconnage accounted for 4.8% of the sector in 2024, recording a decline of 10.7%. Foreign trade also showed negative trends, with imports down by 12.4% and exports falling 13.3%.
In 2024, segmentation by end-use shows that 67.8% of flaconnage was destined for cosmetics and 30.2% for pharmaceuticals. The remaining 2% is allocated to other areas of use, mainly within the chemical industry (paints, adhesives).
As for tubular glass (the remaining 0.7% of total glass packaging), its applications have now stabilised, with 85% used in the pharmaceutical sector, while the remaining 15% is divided between cosmetics and other applications. This segment recorded a significant production growth of +30.7%.