U.S. Federal Government Deems Glass Container Manufacturing Essential

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), the trade association for the glass food and beverage bottle and jar manufacturing companies, as well suppliers, raw materials inputs, recycled glass, equipment, supply partners and end market customers have been deemed essential operations by the U.S. Federal Government.

Glass bottle and jar manufacturing facilities, along with our supply chain partners, and food and beverage customers, need to be able to continue to produce for sale, in-store packaged food and beverages for the American public.

Citing specific guidance issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -

“Workers necessary for the manufacturing of metals (including steel and aluminum), industrial minerals, semiconductors, materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, information technology, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, wood products, commodities used as fuel for power generation facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, processing and reprocessing of solid waste, emergency services, and the defense industrial base. Additionally, workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains, and workers necessary to maintain a manufacturing operation in warm standby.

Workers who support the production and transportation of chlorine and alkali manufacturing, single-use plastics, and packaging that prevents the contamination or supports the continued manufacture of food, water, medicine, and other essential products, including glass container manufacturing.”

Consumer purchases of a variety of core grocery store pantry items have increased significantly through the end of February 2020. Glass bottle and jar production is essential to meet this continued and growing consumer demand, as grocery and similar outlets for remain open, viable purchasing outlets for consumers. The domestic glass container industry produces over 25 billion food and beverage containers in support of its customer base, and needs to be fully operational to meet this demand.

Glass container manufacturing facilities utilize high-temperature furnaces that must run continuously 24 hours a day. They cannot be turned off or easily idled and when shut down, and can take weeks to restart. A disruption to our industry will severely impair Americans’ ability to purchase food and beverages at their grocery store or similar outlet, at a time when those outlets remain critical to the food security of our nation.

All GPI member companies and our supply chain partners are continuing to take appropriate action for their employees’ safety, closely following guidance and related developments to ensure worker safety, as issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).