Labour's net zero glass tax will drive up costs, warns King's jam supplier

Telegraph

21-03-2025

Labour's net zero tax on glass will drive up the cost of making jam, the King's supplier has warned.
Essex company Wilkin & Sons, which manufactures Tiptree jams and marmalades, said it had 'great concern' about the new levy, which will push up the cost of glass jars and bottles when it takes effect next month.
The Government is planning to enforce a regulation that would make packaging producers responsible for the cost of recycling their products.
The extended producer responsibility rules will impose extra costs on manufacturers, which are expected to be passed on to food producers and consumers. But the costs under the scheme are based on the weight of the materials, which will make glass significantly more expensive to produce than plastic.
The rules could force companies to sell beer, wine, jam and other products in plastic packaging to avoid price rises, even though glass is a more environmentally-friendly material.
Government must 'urgently' review plans
Chris Newenham, the joint managing director of Wilkin & Sons, said the Government must 'urgently' review its plans or face higher jam prices on the shelves.
'Wilkin & Sons have proudly filled in glass jars for the last 140 years,' he said. 'Glass for us offers the best balance between maintaining exceptional product quality, being visually appealing, and most importantly is infinitely recyclable.'
Mr Newenham said the plans were 'great concern' with 'the proposed levy on glass being punitive when set against that of plastic', adding: 'We can't imagine that this is what the Government intended with this legislation, and hope that they will review this position as a matter of urgency.'
Wilkin & Sons has been granted a royal warrant to supply jam and marmalade to the Royal Household under every monarch since George V in 1911. Its Tiptree marmalade was a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
After her death, many well-wishers left marmalade sandwiches outside Buckingham Palace in a nod to her love of the preserve and fondness for Paddington Bear.
But the company has been hit by high production costs in recent years, and last June posted its first loss 'in memory'.
The company's call for a review of the glass tax comes after a campaign by Sarah Champion, the Labour MP whose Rotherham constituency contains Beatson Clark, a major glass producer .
The new rules will take effect next month after delays by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) since the levy was first proposed by the Conservatives.
'Terrible for Britain's glass industry'
Ms Champion said: 'It is utterly illogical that Defra decisions will result in glass jars and beer bottles being switched to plastic. Defra's decision is bad for consumers, bad for the environment and terrible for Britain's glass industry.
'Time is running out. I sincerely hope Defra listens to the concerns of the sector and urgently changes course.'
A Defra spokesman said: 'We are committed to cracking down on waste and boosting recycling, with the extended producer responsibility for packaging being a vital first step for our packaging reforms.
'Our reforms are encouraging a transition to reuse and refill, which would ultimately reduce costs for the glass industry who can refill their packaging.
'The Government will continue to work closely with businesses, including in the glass industry, on our packaging reforms programme, which together will create 21,000 jobs and help stimulate more than £10 billion investment in recycling over the next decade.'