Glass Express Midlands is urging the government to recognise that rising business costs – fuelled by tax increases and surging energy prices – are undermining the very industries it needs to help deliver Net Zero.
The company says it’s time for ministers to stop viewing manufacturers as easy targets for revenue and start seeing them as strategic partners in the UK’s green transition.
With the UK government committed to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the construction sector – which currently accounts for nearly 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions – expected to lead the charge, the need for sustainable building materials has never been greater.
“Glass has extraordinary potential in helping the UK meet both its Net Zero and sustainable building targets,” said Arun Photay, Managing Director of Glass Express Midlands.
“Whether it’s quality glazing for energy-efficient homes or an endlessly recyclable material for sustainable buildings, glass should be seen as a front-line solution – not a footnote.”
However, rising National Insurance Contributions and soaring energy prices are putting UK-based manufacturers under unsustainable pressure.
“It doesn’t just affect profits – it also impacts the capital we would otherwise invest in greener technologies, innovation and product quality,” Arun said. “The risk is that squeezed margins deter modernisation, weaken supply chains, and ultimately cost jobs.”
Government targets require all new buildings in England to be Net Zero-ready by 2025 under the Future Homes Standard, but manufacturers like Glass Express Midlands say these goals will be difficult to achieve without industry and government collaboration.
“Glass businesses across the UK are holding the fort, continuing to offer low-cost, energy efficient solutions while our own overheads are skyrocketing in the process,” Arun added. “We’re asking for the government to sit down with businesses like ours and ask, ‘How can we help you do more?’ as opposed to increasing taxes that make long-term investment harder.”
Glass Express Midlands continues to back British manufacturing through its Made in Britain accreditation and a firm commitment to low-carbon supply chains, but Arun says stronger government engagement is critical.
“The glass industry is not the enemy of sustainability – it’s one of its best chances of success.”
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