IBP NEWS
Reconomy Connect Partners with Marston’s to Drive Glass Reuse
Reconomy Connect, a brand by the leading international circular economy specialist
Reconomy, has partnered with Marston’s and Again, the supply chain infrastructure
platform, to deliver a transformational glass reuse project that is reshaping how the
hospitality sector manages glass waste.

Launched in September 2024, the
‘Making Reuse Simple’ project creates
returnable reusable bottles from
material that is traditionally sent for
recycling. Bottles are collected and
undergo a specialist cleaning and
quality-checking process, with only
those deemed fit for purpose being sent
on to drink manufacturers. The project
is able to capture detailed data from
the collections on bottle weights and
reuse volumes, helping inform Marston’s
future decisions on product packaging
and procurement.

As Marston’s waste management
partner for almost a decade, supporting
the group to become the first of the
‘big five’ pub companies to achieve zero
landfill, Reconomy Connect worked
with Marston’s to launch the project.

Reconomy Connect has been responsible
for managing the rollout, data analysis,
staff engagement, communication and
ongoing compliance.

The initial results from the project
have exceeded expectations:
■ 102,000 bottles processed through
the scheme since launch in September
2024 with 22,048 bottles (22%) reused
by drinks manufacturers
■ 43% reduction in glass-collection
costs, saving thousands of pounds
each year
■ Potential to have a 60% lower carbon
footprint than recycling
■ No increase in time required for pub
staff to manage bottles and prepare
them for collection
Following the initial success of the
project, the ambition is to now expand it
to nearly 600 Marston’s pubs next year
potentially capturing 10.6 million bottles
annually. Based on a reuse rate of 22–50%,
between 2.3 and 5.3 million bottles will be
reused, a figure expected to rise as more
drink manufacturers join the scheme.

Similar projects are now being replicated
by other major UK pub operators.

Stoelzle Flaconnage Prepares for a Strong Comeback
Stoelzle announces that the rebuild remains on track to finish in Q4 2025, with
Stoelzle Flaconnage targeting a December 2025 restart of operations following the
fire on 12th July 2025.

The incident caused significant damage to the furnace and key production equipment.

From day one, Stoelzle activated its Business Continuity Plan and began
reallocating production across sister facilities in Europe to ensure uninterrupted
service to customers. Group-wide efforts have focused on supporting the recovery of
the Knottingley site to enable a return to full-strength operations in December 2025.

Diageo Jobs at Risk in Northern Ireland
Diageo has revealed that it may cut some commercial roles at its business in
Northern Ireland.

In a statement, a Diageo spokesperson said, “We propose to consolidate some
commercial operations capabilities from Diageo Northern Ireland into our Commercial
Experience Centre of Excellence in India.”
The move is being considered “to support Diageo’s future growth ambition and to
optimise our customer support processes,” they said.

12 Richmond-Based Business
Warns EPR Scheme Creating
‘Unfair Market’
One Water – a leading ethical water
brand based in Richmond UK, has
warned that the Government’s
new EPR regulations are placing
a ‘disproportionate burden’ on
compliant companies, after
revealing the scheme will cost
the firm around £140,000 in 2025
and has already contributed to a
£400,000 loss in glass product sales.

One Water sells spring water in a
variety of formats to supermarkets,
wholesale and catering and the
travel sector, and is the official water
partner of Brentford FC. With each
product sold, a donation is made to
The One Foundation to fund clean
water projects around the world.

Their glass range was widely used in
hospitality venues in the UK, however
the new regulations have given One
Water no option but to increase glass
product prices and this has meant
that customers have been dropping in
their droves.

One Water’s founder Duncan Goose
believes that the EPR bill was broadly
in line with expectations after months
of preparation but criticised the
surprise addition of a 4% impairment
charge to cover debts from non-
compliant businesses, as well as an
additional scheme administration
fee, despite having already paid to
register with the Environment Agency.

The firm said the financial
impact of EPR has forced a review of
operating costs. While it has ruled
out cutting support to its charity
partner, The One Foundation, it
must now consider reducing its use
of glass packaging and recovering
some costs through customer price
increases. Thus far, the firm has been
hit by £400,000 in lost sales, mostly
through hotels, bars and restaurants.

INTERNATIONAL BOTTLER & PACKER | DECEMBER 2025



NEWS
10 YEARS ASSISTING BRITISH
AND IRISH CLIENTS
SINCE 2015 SMI HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ITS CUSTOMERS IN
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND WITH FAST AND EFFICIENT LOCAL SUPPORT, BOTH COMMERCIALLY
AND TECHNICALLY, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A RAPIDLY EVOLVING MARKET.

SMI (UK & Ireland) is a company based
in Manchester; a major logistical and
industrial hub strategically positioned
to assist the current and potential
customers of the SMI Group and respond
promptly to their service requests.

The staff, currently consisting of six
people, coordinated by Paul McGovern,
Sales Director of SMI (UK & Ireland),
assists customers with commercial
requests, technical enquiries, spare parts
supply, maintenance, and new applications.

Competence and professionalism are
VISIT OUR WEBSITE | www.binstedgroup.com
undeniable strengths of the UK-based
branch of the SMI Group, increasingly
engaged in managing important projects
such as the recent supply of secondary
packaging machines to Radnor Hills to
meet the needs for valuable and eco-
sustainable packaging solutions.

We discussed this subject in depth
with Paul McGovern, Branch & Sales
Director of SMI (UK & Ireland) Ltd.

“In 2015 Mr Paolo Nava, the SMI
Group’s CEO, asked me to open an SMI
Branch in the UK. At that time SMI had
been servicing the UK & Irish markets
remotely from Italy.

“Although historically SMI had sold
a respectable number of machines into
the UK & Ireland markets, the overall
business turnover in this area was
gradually declining and for that reason
SMI decided that opening the branch
in the UK, in order to have a physical
presence with locally-based people
managing existing and new customers,
was the only way to increase our sales
again and improve our customer service.”
13