Consumers Worldwide Desire Food and Beverages in Glass

New O-I Research Reveals Gap between Availability of Glass Packaging and Product
Preference
PERRYSBURG, Ohio--(Business Wire)--
Consumers around the world overwhelmingly prefer foods and beverages in glass to
other packaging materials, but new research commissioned by Owens-Illinois, Inc.
(NYSE: OI) suggests consumers struggle to find their favorite brands packaged in
glass on store shelves.

In a global research study conducted by Siegel+Gale, one of the world`s premiere
strategic branding companies, more than 2,900 consumers in nine countries were
polled about their preferences regarding food and beverage packaging. Designed
to gauge how consumers choose among the various packaging alternatives and weigh
criteria for packaging, the study found the preference for glass packaging is
strong: 93.5 percent for wine to 66 percent for non-alcoholic beverages.

"For the first time ever, we confirmed what we`ve theorized for some
time-consumers recognize the advantages of glass and prefer it over other
packaging materials," said Carol Gee, chief communications officer, O-I. "We
were very pleased to discover what the data shows. If given a choice, consumers
will choose a product in glass first versus a product in another type of
packaging."

Consumers worldwide rate glass as superior to other packaging materials on five
key factors: purity, safety, quality, versatility and recyclability.

"We found amazing consistencies, country by country, in how people make their
product choices. Shoppers care not only about what is in the package but about
the package itself," said Rolf Wulfsberg, Ph.D., global director of research,
Siegel+Gale. "It appears consumers make their packaging choices based on safety,
versatility and ability to preserve the contents of what`s inside. Ultimately,
glass packaging supports each of these preferences."

Although the data demonstrates consumers prefer glass, glass packaging may not
always be available on store shelves. Results from the food category show that
91 percent of consumers indicate they prefer glass, but glass only holds about
10 percent of the market share for packaging in the food category.

"This strongly suggests that glass packaging is not as widely available on store
shelves as consumers would like, either because their preferred brand does not
use glass or their favorite store does not carry it in glass," Gee said. "We
hope food and beverage producers pay attention to this new data and bring more
glass packaging options back to consumers."

Additional data reflected preferences in individual food and beverage
categories. The data shows 84 percent of respondents prefer glass as a container
for beer, particularly in European countries. The demand for preserved foods
packaged in glass is also strong. Approximately 91 percent of consumers surveyed
prefer food packaged in glass, especially in Latin America (95 percent).
Finally, glass is preferred by wine drinkers over any other packaging, by as
much as 98 percent.

Siegel+Gale utilized advanced technology and statistical modeling, through its
proprietary EyeOpener Brand Decision Analyzer, to conduct the research and
analysis. EyeOpener clarifies buyer behavior by identifying how people make
decisions, not just on how they perceive, or think about, a brand (packaging
material).

Media Interviews Available

Additional research data and interview opportunities are available to media
representatives. Please contact Jennifer Foster, jfoster@nicholsonkovac.com, for
more information.

About O-I

Millions of times a day, O-I glass containers deliver many of the world's
best-known consumer products to people all around the world. With the leading
position in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America, O-I
manufactures consumer-preferred, 100 percent recyclable glass containers that
enable superior taste, purity, visual appeal and value benefits for our
customers` products. Established in 1903, the company employs more than 23,000
people with 80 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries. In 2008, net sales were
$7.9 billion. For more information, visit http://www.o-i.com.

About Siegel+Gale

Siegel+Gale (http://www.siegelgale.com) is one of the world's premier strategic
branding companies. Since it was founded by Alan Siegel in 1969, the firm has
applied the art and science of simplicity to create branding programs that have
helped many of the world's best-known organizations excel. Driven by its
philosophy of "Simple is Smart," Siegel+Gale has led the way in bringing
innovation to the corporate branding field, including transforming complex,
incomprehensible customer communications into plain English; helping clients
create distinctive brand voices across all their communications; transporting
brands onto the Internet; and aligning the brand experience for customers with
the brand promise. Siegel+Gale has full-service offices in New York, Los
Angeles, London, and Dubai and strategic partnerships around the world.

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http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6000050&lang=en.

Nicholson Kovac, Inc.
Jennifer Foster, 816-460-3479
jfoster@nicholsonkovac.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009