Capacity Serving Measures for Marketing
Capacity Serving Measures (CSM’s) are a part of our everyday lives – they are more commonly known as glasses or cups and we use them every single time we have a drink.
Over the past few years promotional and branded glassware has become increasingly popular due to innovations in the printing industry which make it quick, easy and cost-effective to brand glasses with promotional, personal and bespoke designs.
Whether it’s the Six Nations, Glastonbury, Ascot or a pint in your local pub, the chances are your drink will be served in glassware that is fun, individual, reflects a brand’s ethos and most importantly adds to the consumer experience. Serving as a reminder of the event and product that created some fantastic memories.
If you are a business that produces promotional material or manages the sponsorship deals for brands and events, the likelihood is that promotional glassware will be included in that marketing mix.
Traditionally, CSM’s were made from glass, but material innovations and increased concerns about the impact on the environment and sustainability mean Capacity Serving Measures can be made from recycled materials or plant based materials – that are environmentally friendly and biodegradable.
Capacity Serving Measures – The Legal Requirements
As a business or consumer, we usually don’t think about the measurements we see on glasses when we purchase alcoholic drinks. We just assume that if we ask for a pin,t we will be served one.
But, actually all CSM’s that are used to serve beer, cider and most spirits in the UK are required to meet the standards set out by the Government’s Measuring Instruments Regulations, 2016 and other weights and measures legislation.
These are designed to provide quality assurance to consumers, ensure you as a supplier, know what you need to look for when purchasing branded glassware and ensure all manufacturers meet standardised requirements.
If you are manufacturing CSMs for use in England, Scotland, or Wales, whether it be for merchandising, trade, events or partie,s you will need to apply for Module A2 or Module E1 certification to ensure your product is compliant with current regulations. Your product will need to, be:
- Clearly marked with the legal standard measurements for alcoholic drinks within those markets.
- Be clearly marked with your company name, a UKCA marking, the year and the number of the Approved Body that issued your A2 or E1 certification.
- If plastic is immersed in water for more than 10 minutes at 95c, it will not shrink, distort, or adhere to pressure.
- Not rock or brim its lines if left on a reasonably horizontal surface.
What is a UKCA Marking?
The UKCA marking is an abbreviation of UK Conformity Assessed and demonstrates that your product has been independently assessed by a UK Approved Conformity Assessment Body (CAB), and meets the required standard for placement on the GB market as outlined above (please note that different rules apply for Northern Ireland).
The process of achieving UKCA Certification for Capacity Serving Measures
Over the past three years, the UK Metrology Board have helped numerous businesses achieve A2 or E1 Certification for the manufacturing of Capacity Serving Measures, and it’s not as daunting or as difficult as you might think.
Our easy 12 step process means you can quickly and easily submit your application for certification via our application page. Once you have done so, we will be in touch to discuss your requirements and ensure we have everything we need.
We’ll then send out a detailed certification agreement, including the costs and provisional dates. Once you have agreed to go ahead, we’ll send across an audit plan. This is laid out in simple, clear steps so you know exactly what to expect during the audit.
At this point, you will also be put in direct contact with your auditor, so you can get the answers to any questions you might have straight away.
We’ll then review the results of your audit, and all being well, we can then issue your certificate and also notify OPS&S who will list you as an Approved Manufacturer on the Gov.uk website.
If you would like to find out more about how we can help you achieve the correct certification for the manufacturing of CSMs in the UK, then do get in contact today. You can send us an email info@ukmb.org, visit our website: www.ukmb.org or give us a call on 01727 582023.
Subject to the scope of the project, we can have you fully certified within 4-6 weeks, giving you plenty of time to prepare for those busy summer months.
