A Year of Extraordinary Glass Manufacturing

Another year is drawing to a close, and as we look to wind down for the festive period, we wanted to take some time to reflect on this memorable year.

 

Embracing Sustainability with ECOVA

This year, we launched our most significant shift towards sustainable bottle production yet, our ECOVA range.

ECOVA is trailblazing, innovative, distinctive, and ecological.

We are constantly looking to push the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable glass packaging. ECOVA is the epitome of this, being an eco-centric range of bottles that are comprised of over 50% recycled glass, weighing just 500 grams per bottle, and have been produced with eco-design to improve palletisation.

Since launching in April, we have already experienced keen adoption from brands looking to action real sustainable change.

For instance, Burnt Faith has opted for the Vita bottle for their newly released Triple Sec. Their first collaboration with us was their modern take on Brandy, housed in a bespoke bottle. However, for their liqueur SKU that pairs perfectly with their brandy creation, they chose the Vita bottle for its elegance and sustainable credentials.

And they are not the only ones. DropWorks Distillery moved into the ECOVA range for their rebrand this September. They opted for our timeless, tall and slender Patet bottle. Their rum collection is perfectly housed in a bottle comprised of over 50% recycled glass, emulating their commitment to the environment.

 

Atomus: The New Addition to our ECOVA Range

After the success of the initial collection launch, the ECOVA range took another step forward, with the introduction of Atomus. Another timeless bottle crafted with the same sustainability properties as its counterparts, offering a versatile off-the-shelf packaging option for an array of spirits. The bottle takes inspiration from one of the most used styles in the industry, offering the perfect vessel for botanical gins or flavour-infused vodkas.

 

Uncovering the Future of Spirits at Distillers Forum

September 19th 2024 marked our fifth annual Distillers Forum event. We created an environment to inspire creativity, breed innovation, and spark trailblazing ideas, inviting professionals from all across the drinks sector to unite. Distillers Forum had an incredible number of attendees, with a 35% increase of innovators at this year’s event compared to last.

We were joined by industry-recognised speakers, including:

• Matt Neal – Uncle Nearest
• Chris Pitcher – Redburn Atlantic
• Alan Powel – British Distillers Alliance
• Jen Heeley-Wiggins – Spirit of Manchester
• Kate Dowling – Red Key Commercial
• Richard Ferriman – Neurodiversity Workshops
• Lewis Hayes – DropWorks Distillery
• Daniel Rowntree – High & Dry

This event was held as a success by our attendees, and We’re deep into planning for next years’ event on September 18^th, 2025. Save the date!

 

Award-Winning Glass Packaging

Every project we undertake looks to push boundaries in glass packaging, delivering high-calibre, distinctive bottles. Some of these projects have been recognised externally, showcasing our excellence amongst our competitors.

Our bespoke creation for The Secret Garden Distillery was awarded ‘Glass Pack of the Year’ at the UK Packaging Awards 2024. Their bottle encapsulated the essence of their secret garden, upon which the distillery sits. The bottle is down to earth, giving an organic feel by being a little misshapen, and features embossing of a window carved from juniper, embodying their tagline ‘rooted in nature.’

This project was not the only one to gain recognition this year. Our Classic Laddie bottle creation for Bruichladdich won Silver at the Environmental Packaging Awards. For their renewed bottle, Bruichladdich sought to drive sustainable change. Through our collaboration, we were able to:

• Lessen the bottle weight by 34.47%

• Incorporate over 50% recycled glass
• Increase the average bottles per pallet by 19%

This teal creation blends vibrancy, creativity, and eco-consciousness into one unforgettable package.

 

Remarkable Glass Creations

We are passionate about curating unforgettable glass packaging, and we love collaborating with diverse clients to deliver their unique vision. This year, we have produced a myriad of distinctive glass bottles, including:

• A decorative juniper window for The Secret Garden Distillery
• A bottle that emulates heritage for Whittaker’s Whisky
• A spiralling coil bottle for Sacred Spirits

Beyond these, we’ve recently developed an astonishing bottle for Hepple Gin, a masterclass in well-thought-out glass design. Sourcing juniper, Douglas fir, and blackcurrant leaves from Northumberland, Hepple Spirits Co only use nature’s best assets to create their modern take on a classic gin. Their bottle sought to pay homage to the nature infused in their gin. The bottle itself is an oloid shape, which is when two circles are fused together, symbolising the fusion of nature and science. This is accompanied by an embossed swirl pattern inspired by an ancient juniper bush trunk located at the distillery. Aside from nature reflected in the decorative elements, this bottle respects nature by incorporating over 50% recycled glass and weighing 100 grams lighter than its previous iteration.

 

This is just a glimpse into the many memorable moments comprising this year. From all the team here at Verallia UK, we wish you a merry festive season, and we look forward to another year of curating statement glass creations with you.