Why Sip on Sustainability: 5 Top Benefits of Glass soda bottles over Plastic soda bottles

Reusable cups and soda bottles have been on the rise for several years now. Glass soda bottles have been used before the advent of single-use & disposable plastic ones. As per a study conducted in 2020, in the United States, out of seven different recycling classification codes, only plastics (soda and water bottles) can actually be recycled.

The recycling rate in the United States is 32% (Source- Digital Journal)  and if the consumption pattern continues the way they are now, 2/3rd of the world’s population could be living in a water crisis by 2025.

What is better, Glass or Plastic?

Glass -A hard, transparent substance manufactured by fusing sand with lime and soda, and Cullet( the industry term for furnace-ready recycled glass) in extreme heat. Whereas Plastic is made up of raw materials like natural gas, oil or plant parts, which are refined into ethane and propane.

Fig.1 We can observe the differences between Plastic and Glass bottles

Analysing why is a glass soda bottle preferred over a plastic soda bottle

Plastic bottles often transmit unwanted toxic tastes into the Soda interrupting its intended flavours whereas glass preserves the taste. Glass is the only food packaging which has been granted the highest standard– An FDA status of ‘GRAS’ or generally recognized as safe.

Many quality-oriented companies are choosing glass bottles for their carbonated drinks. Additionally, it is observed that soda in glass bottles has a longer shelf life. Whereas in plastic, air can seep through easily, CO2 can escape leaving the soda flat.

Glass soda bottles also make for aesthetic collectables. Glass soda bottles are 100% recyclable and can be recycled infinite times without any loss in purity or quality. Renowned beverage company Coca-Cola is planning to start reusable glass bottle packaging as a result of rising inflation. (Source- The Packaging Revolution) 

The move comes in after analysing that the consumer demand could sink as the global inflation is here to stay. Chief executive James Quincy said that he does not expect to be inelastic in future as the inflation rate is at its peak globally.

According to the Container Refilling Institute, In 1960, when single-use bottles were a hit, 94% of soda was sold in refillable bottles, But, today less than 1% is sold that way.

“The blanket statement that glass is amazing, plastic is terrible, it depends; Are we looking at the wastage?

Are we looking at the carbon footprints?

Brands need to worry more about impact than how much they can market their products filled in Plastic or glass packaging.” ~ Charlotte Palermino (Co-founder and CEO at Dieux)

This statement opens up a multitude of discussions as to whether or not glass bottles are preferable to plastic bottles. And, how they impact the planet, buyers and manufacturers.

In the United States, there are numerous manufacturers for procuring glass soda bottles in bulk. You can place an order for;

• 7 UP Mexican Glass Bottle
• Americana Cherry Cola
• Americana Honey Cream Soda
• Dirty Sue – Bloody Mary Spice Mix

Conclusion

It is evident that with all the right qualities, Glass soda bottles top the list when it comes to preservation, recycle-friendliness, and usage options. Although, debates & researches are ongoing regarding how sustainable are glass bottles as they leave their carbon footprints, too.

References

• The Packaging Revolution
• thedieline.com
• Glass packaging institute
• Semantic Scholar – Research material
• Sciencedirect.com
• mdpi.com
• McKinsey & Comp
• Globalnewswire.com
• Ebooks