We are building on a strong foundation
Lukas Burkhardt took over as CEO of the Vetropack Group at the start of 2026. He is stepping up to the role at a challenging time: overcapacity, price pressure and volatile energy markets. In this interview, he shares his initial assessment and explains why, despite the current difficult situation, he is confident that Vetropack will return to profitable growth.
Mr Burkhardt, you’ve just completed your first 100 days as CEO of Vetropack. Time for a brief summary: How was your start? What has impressed you? Was there anything that came as a surprise?
Time is flying by at the moment and, given recent developments, it’s been more of a kick-start than a quiet settling-in period for me. Still, I’ve really enjoyed my first hundred days at Vetropack. Much of what I’d observed from the outside has been confirmed, but with greater depth and nuance. What truly impresses me is the high technological standard of our plants and the enormous industry expertise within our organisation. That is exceptional and provides a strong foundation on which we can build. Then there is also the level of commitment shown by our people, despite a market environment that has been very challenging in many respects over the past few years.
The market is suffering from overcapacity and price pressure. How do you assess the situation?
The situation is certainly tense, there’s no question about that. Our industry has built up capacity in recent years, whilst demand for beverage packaging in particular has been declining. Some competitors have already consolidated operations, and I expect this to lead to a better balance between supply and demand by 2026. Right now, the most positive signs are coming from the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages segments. Demand in the wine sector remains weaker, whilst other segments are stabilising.
Glass has to compete with plastic and aluminium. How does it hold potential for the future as a material?
Glass has nothing to fear from such a comparison. Glass is the only packaging material that can be recycled completely and an unlimited number of times without any loss of quality. It is food-safe, tastes neutral, and conveys the high-quality feel that consumers expect from premium products. Key trends such as health awareness, premiumisation and sustainability all play into the hands of glass as a material. I am convinced that glass will continue to play an important role in the packaging market in the future.
Speaking of innovation: how is Vetropack's lightweight glass solution Rezon progressing?
Later this year, we will be commissioning the first large-scale production line for Rezon bottles at our site in Pöchlarn. This marks a milestone on the path to serial production. The market launch in the Austrian brewing industry has already been very promising: The product performs well and is generating considerable interest. Lower overall costs thanks to more use cycles in the returnable system, less weight to transport, a reduced CO₂ footprint and a stronger brand impact for our customers – all this adds up to a strong value proposition. I am firmly convinced that Rezon has what it takes to become a real growth driver for us.
What are your plans for this and the following years?
2026 will be more of a transitional year for us, with the clear aim of reversing the trend and getting back on track. In concrete terms, I see three priorities: profitable growth, targeted portfolio optimisation with a focus on growth segments, and a consistent customer focus combined with a competitive cost structure. In the long term, we want to play a leading role in the European glass packaging industry. I am convinced that we have the right people, the right technology and the right products to realise our potential.