Glass Bottles vs Plastic Bottles

plastic vs glass

Glass bottles are making a big comeback in the beverage industry. More and more companies are replacing their cans and plastic with old-fashioned glass. While it does have a high aesthetic appeal, glass bottles have more benefits than you think. They are healthier for you, and for the environment. Here are four reasons why Beloka Water uses Glass bottles.

  • It’s environmentally-friendly

2.7 million tons of plastic are used each year worldwide for disposable drinking bottles, with only 1% being recycled. Imagine the carbon footprint in manufacturing plastic bottles, which are then being shipped around the world. Glass bottles are made out of abundant natural resources, and require low energy inputs in the manufacturing process, compared to plastic. Plastic bottles are not biodegradable, meaning they can stay on this green earth for millennia. The artificial toxins from degrading plastics can leach into soil, affecting underground water reserves and farmland. While glass bottles are comparably more heavy and difficult to transport, they hold more benefits for the environment in the long run.

  • What are plastic bottles made of?

Bisphenol- A, or BPA, is one of the more well-known industrial chemicals used to construct plastic containers, particularly in water bottles. However in recent times, it has become a well-known fact that BPA can seep into the bottled water. This was alarming, considering exposure to high levels of BPA can affect fertility in both men and women, increase the risk of cancer and can cause potential heart problems. While many manufacturers have taken to removing BPA from their chemical compounds and labelling the bottles ‘BPA-free’, the replacement may be just as unhealthy. Polythylene Terephthalate (PET) is a common substitute and is more widely used in containers for one-time use. There isn’t enough evidence to suggest any major side-effects of PET, however it is recommended to only use the container once, before throwing it away. It is also recommended to avoid drinking warm water out of plastic bottles as it may expedite the seeping process.

  • It’s longer-lasting

Glass bottles can be recycled indefinitely, meaning when we throw out glass bottles, they’re easily recyclable in plants to make other glass materials. While glass recycling is a continuous loop, recycled plastic eventually breaks during the process, rendering the material useless. Furthermore, glass bottles don’t wear out with each subsequent use, while plastic bottles need to be thrown out after a few uses. Pyrex glass can be used for both hot and cold substances, while, as mentioned previously, plastic containers easily contaminate warm materials with toxin seepage.

  • Flavour Preservation

We’re settling the age-old argument of whether drinks taste better in glass, plastic or cans. Glass is odorless and tasteless, which means it is neutral to two main senses. Plastic omits a slight chemical taste, because the chemicals can seep into our drinks. Similarly, with aluminium, our tongue can taste the metal ions of the container, which makes the water taste metallic. Studies also show that human perception is important in determining how food or drinks taste. The colour and appearance of a cup can often affect the way we perceive taste. Water in glass bottles are designed to look aesthetically pleasing to the drinkers, which suggests the water may taste better! Beloka Waters is proud to be an environmentally-friendly company, bottling our pristine water in Glass bottles right from the source of where the water flows, and ensuring we’re delivering untouched, mineral-rich water right to your dinner table.