Leeds-based glass giant Verallia to cut up to 40 jobs across West Yorkshire plants, union warns
Dozens of jobs could be axed at Verallia's Leeds and Knottingley glass factories, with unions pointing to a lack of government support.
The GMB union has warned on Wednesday (February 11) that glass factory Verallia’s West Yorkshire sites are set to slash up to 40 jobs.
Consultation talks have begun to cut jobs following the impact of the government’s ‘Glass Packaging Tax’, the union revealed. The cuts will affect jobs at the firm's sites in Leeds and Knottingley.
Verallia UK, headquartered in Leeds, is one of Europe’s leading producers of glass packaging for food and drink, operating 34 glass plants and five decor plants across 12 countries.
The Yorkshire Evening Post has contacted the company for comment.
Darran Travis, regional organiser at GMB, called the cuts “devastating news” for the industry and local community, adding that glass manufacturing is “not operating on a level playing field”.
He said: "With the glass packaging tax, rising energy costs, and higher employer contributions, we warned the Government jobs would go.
“If these policies are not reversed, there is no future for glass bottle manufacturing in the UK.
“GMB is calling for urgent Government intervention to prevent further decline across the glass manufacturing sector.”
The glass packing tax, known as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) levy, came into effect in October 2025. It aims to increase recycling rates by passing on the costs from local authorities to the companies selling the products.
The levy has drawn criticism from the glass industry in particular, mainly because the fee is calculated by weight. This causes heavier materials such as glass to be taxed more than lighter alternatives, like plastic.
A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said: "Extended Producer Responsibility moves the cost of dealing with waste away from taxpayers, generating over £1 billion annually.
“These changes are backing British business with major investment and creating 25,000 jobs.
"We continue to work closely with the glass industry on this programme.”