Why are PET bottles greener than glass bottles?

PET bottles have gained popularity in many industries, offering an alternative to traditional glass packaging. In the 1970s, PET began to replace glass and gain an advantage over it in the packaging market. Bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate were then introduced into large-scale production, especially in the beverage industry. Despite the controversy surrounding plastics, PET has several environmental advantages over glass and is currently the most popular material for producing bottles and packaging for food, cosmetics and household chemicals. In this story we will explain the miracle behind this material and why PET bottles are a greener solution than glass bottles.

Lower energy consumption at every stage of the PET bottle life cycle

One of the main advantages of PET bottles is significantly lower energy consumption at every stage of their life cycle. PET production requires a temperature of just 280°C, while glass processing takes as much as 1,700°C. This difference translates into huge energy savings at the bottle production stage, and consequently – lower emissions into the atmosphere. This difference can be expressed in concrete numbers: the production of one glass bottle consumes about six times more energy than the production of a PET bottle.

Further, the light weight of PET bottles makes transportation and distribution more energy efficient. Less cargo weight means lower fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Also, PET recycling is more environmentally friendly than glass recycling precisely because of the significantly lower energy consumption at each step of the process.

Effective recycling and renewability

PET bottle recycling is a legally regulated process in the European Union, making it one of the most developed and technically advanced plastic recycling systems. This makes PET currently the best and truly environmentally friendly alternative to glass. Moreover, in addition to recycling, PET can also be partially produced from renewable materials such as plants (BIO-PET). This option makes PET bottles an even more sustainable choice for environmentally conscious companies. Glass recycling also has its environmental benefits but in terms of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and reusability, PET recycling is more advantageous. As already mentioned, melting glass requires high temperatures, which involves high energy consumption and pollutant emissions.

Lower weight and greater functionality of PET bottles compared to glass

PET bottles, owing to their light weight and strength, can be packed in a more compact way. This allows more bottles to be transported in one transport run, reducing the number of trips needed and further reducing logistics costs. Better utilization of cargo space also has a positive impact on warehousing, enabling more efficient inventory management.

PET bottles are less susceptible to mechanical damage than glass bottles. Glass, though looking good and elegant, is fragile and susceptible to cracking and breakage. The transport of glass bottles is therefore associated with a higher risk of waste from damage. In the case of PET bottles, this risk is much lower, which means lower costs from complaints and filling in shortages in delivery.

PET material flexibility and easy storage

PET material is characterized by high flexibility and ease in storage. This is an advantage not only for producers, but also for consumers. PET bottles, due to their flexibility, can withstand pressure, falls and shocks, which is important not only during transport and storage, but also when carrying the bottles in a backpack or bag. Additionally, empty PET bottles can be easily compacted, taking up less space in waste bins before recycling. The reduced volume of waste means that more bottles can fit in the bins, which in turn means they need to be emptied less often. This not only increases the efficiency of waste management but also reduces the number of necessary transport trips to recycling centres.

From the perspective of consumer convenience, PET bottles bend easily under pressure. This feature is especially appreciated in products such as sauces, ketchup, mustard and other liquid condiments. The flexibility of PET bottles allows for precise dosing of the contents, which allows for accurate and controlled extraction of the product without the risk of spilling and use of the product until actually finished. This prevents food from being wasted.

PET bottles offer many advantages and it is safe to say that, contrary to popular opinion, they are a greener solution than glass. However, it is necessary to properly manage PET waste to fully exploit the potential of this material and recover as much of it as possible.