2024 Glass Packaging Trends with Becky Davies

2024 has already released a number of interesting and unique trending bottle designs, so we sat down with Becky Davies, Director at Ten Locks and Founder of Pod Pea Vodka, to hear her thoughts on what the next big thing in 2024 glass packaging will be.

Hi Becky, before we start, tell us a little bit about yourself.

“Hello, my name’s Becky and I’m the Founder of Pod Pea Vodka and the Director of Ten Locks.

At Ten Locks, we strive to craft drinks of distinction and lead customers to try exciting new flavours and concepts. With a portfolio that is thoughtfully designed to show untapped trends and innovative products, the team at Ten Locks backs brands that strive for change in their own unique ways

Taking inspiration from my experience at Ten Locks, as well as my 10+ years in the spirits industry, I was inspired to create Pod Pea Vodka in 2023. Our award-winning vodka is made from Great British peas… yes, the vegetable… and has a sweet modern flavour with notes of citrus, a light savoury tone, and a silky finish. Creating this brand has been a labour of love and something I feel really proud of.

Thanks! Now using your insight of the glass industry, what was your favourite glass packaging trend that you saw in 2023?

“I think that 2023 was a really important year for packaging design. One of the biggest trends that I saw was an increased interest in larger formats such as litre bottles for spirits. This was largely driven by customers wanting aesthetic packaging that would also produce less waste. But, despite this trend gaining legs in 2023, as of January 2024 70cl glass bottles were still the top choice on supermarket shelves, showing how consumers have yet to fully adopt larger spirit sizes. Which could be a result of their higher price. It will be interesting to see how this difference in values changes over the course of 2024.

Other notable mentions for trends seen in 2023 are:

• Embossed bottles
• Textured labels
• Recycled materials
• No plastic or foils
• Minimalist branding
• Different coloured glass
• Storytelling “

Out of all of the trends you saw in 2023, what was your favourite?

“I think a lot of the embossed bottles that came to market in 2023 looked great. While it can be costly, I still think it’s worth the money to have such a uniquely branded design. This is especially true for embossed sustainable packaging; I think the use of embossing in this area is really striking and well done. Many brands are also doing incredibly well in the off trade partially as a result of their memorably embossed bottle.

However, I also have to say that I am loving the minimalist look. We used it in our glass bottle design for Pod Pea Vodka and I think it really stand the test of time no matter where the spirit bottle is for. Coupled with an artistic label that showcases the brand’s values and history, minimalist bottles can elicit a more modern feel in comparison to embossing. “

What consumer-based trend do you think we will see in 2024?

“One of the biggest trends that I think we will see is consumers opting for more ‘natural’ looking packaging and products in order to fit with their sustainable values. This is a trend that has been gaining traction since 2020 as consumers have become more informed on how their buying habits effect the environment.

Consumers will opt for simpler, more organic-looking designs, made by brands that transparently show their sustainability credentials on their labels. More spirit brands should consider this shift when looking at their 2024 releases, in order to ensure they are keeping in line with consumer values.” 

What is your top design trend prediction for brands in 2024?

“Bouncing off the consumer trend that centres around a natural aesthetic, I think the use of coloured bottles will be a big trend this year, specifically green and blue bottles. These colours are associated with nature, specifically plants and water, so any brands with botanical or ocean-based branding will naturally benefit from this trend.”

What glass packaging trend would you like to see more of in 2024?

“There are two main glass packaging trends that I want to see more of in 2024 and that’s the increased use of compostable corks and an increase in sustainable packaging options at affordable prices. I don’t think that sustainability should be seen as a luxury, it should be accessible and easy. Having more available options in both these categories will allow brands, and consumers, to better attain their sustainability goals.”

Thanks Becky!

Are you looking to start your 2024 glass packaging journey? Get in contact with our team today.