Glass Packaging Industry Reaches Out To Consumers With New App

Consumer campaign Friends of Glass harnesses support for glass in latest online move

Launching this week, a new Friends of Glass Facebook app will allow users to browse, share and vote for their favourite recipes presented in glass, with weekly prizes for the most popular.

The app launch comes at a time when healthy living has been branded the ‘new standard of cool’* and sharing recipes and images of food remains ever popular. The app, which is being rolled out this week, is available on Friends of Glass Facebook pages across Europe, boasting nearly 50,000 followers from countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Head of Container Affairs at British Glass and Friends of Glass spokesperson, Rebecca Cocking said:

“In reaching out through different channels, we hope to find new ways of engaging with consumers while showing glass continues to move with the times. In many ways we’re very lucky, supporters of glass are extremely passionate and will readily communicate its qualities as a material. We want to take these conversations online, opening discussion and raising wider awareness of the benefits of glass. Essentially we want to ignite an army of glass supporters.”

While it seems more products are being moved from glass into plastic, research shows 74% of consumers prefer to buy their favourite food and drinks in glass (InSites 2010).

Rebecca added, “In harnessing the power of social media, our long-term ambition is to ensure glass packaging remains a choice on the shelves. Not only do customers prefer it, but it remains the best packaging material for health, taste and the environment.”

In May, Friends of Glass commissioned a new consumer survey that asked 8,000 people across Europe about their attitudes and health concerns towards many common types of food and drink packaging. One of the key findings was that 81% of UK consumers have some concern about food being contaminated by packaging.

This concern was echoed at a recent Friends of Glass event, in which 10 mum-bloggers were invited alongside TV presenter Cherry Healey, to learn how to cook dishes and present them in glass. When asked about their thoughts towards glass, comments included glass being ‘safer’, ‘more hygienic’ and ‘longer-lasting’.

Following the event, guests shared their experiences of the event on their blogs, as well as on their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. Click here to view a selection of images from the event http://news.friendsofglass.com/en/?m=1.

For more information visit www.friendsofglass.co.uk.

*NPD study on the eating habits of Millennials and Generation Z’ers https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/youngest-us-generations-and-hispanics-will-drive-countrys-eating-behaviors-over-the-next-five-years-reports-npd/

The Friends of Glass survey was carried out on line in 11 EU countries with a sample that is representative of the population. In the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany the sample was 1,000 people. In Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakian and Switzerland the sample was 500. Full survey results can be found at www.friendsofglass.co.uk

Friends of Glass is an influential European consumer forum that supports and promotes the right of consumers to be able to choose food and drink products in glass packaging. It unites all those who believe glass is the clear choice for their health, their families and for the environment. Friends of Glass was initiated in 2009 by the European Container Glass Federation (or FEVE) in response to a pan-European survey commissioned by FEVE in September 2008 by the research institute InSites, which found that 74% of European consumers prefer glass packaging for their food and drinks.

The British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation represents the interests of all sectors of the glass industry in the UK. Its main activity is in representing the industry at European, national and local level on a wide range of topical legislative issues. It also conducts independent research into all aspects of glass production and technology www.britglass.co.uk

FEVE is the association of European manufacturers of glass containers and machine-made glass tableware. The members of FEVE produce over 20 million tonnes of glass per year. The association has some 60 corporate members belonging to approximately 20 independent corporate groups. Manufacturing plants are located across 23 European States and include global blue chip and major companies working for the world’s biggest consumer brands. See more: www.feve.org