The unique attributes of glass like its optical properties, chemical durability, and recyclability account for a range of glass products making it an integral part of the social existence. It is being used for innumerable consumer products ranging from tableware to automotive glass, for lighting and construction, and most importantly as packaging material food and beverages, cosmetics, and chemicals. The ever increasing demand for container glass for both conventional as well as new and specialty products as a result of pioneering researches ensure the continued success of global container glass market. The global market for container glass is projected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 7.9% for the period spanning 2011-2013.
The global container glass industry is dominated by Europe and the US, where the container glass category accounts for a sizeable amount of the overall glass market revenues. Both the US and European regions reported an increase in container glass revenues in 2010, in response to improving economic conditions, and rising consumer awareness about the benefits of using glass packaging. In addition, continuous efforts on the part of the governments to promote recycling of glass containers will lead to an unprecedented growth in the container glass market. In the recent years, the emerging nations in the field of container glass category, like India and other developing countries, have acquired a dominant position posing as potential threat and as well as opportunity for the existing markets.
Glass as a packaging material is being increasingly preferred by consumers inclined towards a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. At the same time, the industry is also encouraging the use of glass packaging due to features of better shelf life, design possibilities and recyclability. The factors driving the global container glass market include mainly the growth in beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industry. However, the development of plastic and PET containers has provided a packaging alternative thus creating a challenge for the global container glass market.
The current landscape of the global container glass market is intensely competitive with numerous large and regional players operating in the market, competing on the basis of price, quality, and other marketing attributes. The leading players in the global container glass industry include Saint-Gobain, Owens-Illinois, and Vetropack, among others.
