Lighter Glass Trend Continues
One of the trends in the glass market in the recent years has been a move to lighter glass, particularly for popularly priced wines (see “Is Going Lighter worth the Weight?” WBM, August 2009). Wine Business Monthly’s 2011 Packaging Survey report verified the trend: almost half of the wineries surveyed said they had turned to using lighter weight bottles for at least some of their wines within the previous year. The leading reason was price; followed by environmental considerations; and saving money on shipping filled bottles and on shipping from vendors or manufacturers.
Eduardo Diaz Kirk, marketing manager for Vitro Packaging, said this interest in lighter glass now extends to the decorated glass that is sometimes used with higher-end wines. “The customer is looking for something different to differentiate the product,” Diaz Kirk said. “Everybody is worried about the weight and about trying to do something better.”