Glass vs plastic & why must brands adopt the healthy trend of glass bottle packaging

We all believe that there should be room for only good things in our lives; and yet at times we are left with no choice but to compromise with whatever that is offered to us. Case in point, fruit juices or beverages being made available in plastic bottles, cans or tetra packs. We all are aware of the negative effects use of plastic has unleashed on the environment and yet only few brand or company are taking the initiative to stop the buck and take the necessary action. And what about the overall well-being and health of the consumers? Is anyone really bothered about it?

The harmful chemicals in plastic can get mixed with the liquid present inside and further interfere with hormones present in the body. Chemicals like bisphenol-A or BPA and phthalates found in higher quantities in plastic can pose potential health threat. According to a research by CBC News, BPA acts as a faux-estrogen and can cause chromosomal abnormalities among pregnant women and lead to birth defects and developmental disabilities in children. Further, it is also known to affect the future fertility levels of female foetus. The findings of the report further suggest, humans with highest concentrations of BPA in their urine are three times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and 2.4 times more likely to have Type 2 diabetes than people with low BPA concentrations.  

Here's looking at few harmful effects drinking from plastic bottle can have on your health and that of the environment:

1. Creates trash: Most plastic bottles end up in landfills where it can lie for hundreds of years without getting decomposed. The growing pile of discarded plastic has become a cause of grave threat to the wildlife and other natural resources. Thus, creating more mess in the environment by releasing toxic gases that further mar the natural beauty and disturb the ecological balance.
2.  Refilling of bottles can be hazardous: Unlike glass or steel bottles, reuse of plastic ones can lead to accumulation of bacteria in them. Even a tiny crack or hole in the bottle becomes the breeding ground of bacteria which then enter into our system each time we take a sip from the bottle. These bacteria could lead to illnesses like couch, cold and flu among others.

The plastic waste or bottles that are thrown away in water bodies often lead to adverse consequences for marine and aqua life. There have been evidences galore that have shown slump in the reproduction and growth rate among several of these species. So if being around plastic and consuming it in various forms can do this to animals and other species, imagine what it could do to us humans!

So where does the solution lie? It would be not possible to erase use of plastic from the face of earth but as a conscious inhabitant of this planet, we can do our bit in adopting methods that would prove fruitful for both the mother nature and its children in the long run. Using alternatives like glass bottles is something food packaging brands and companies must insist upon. Glass is a proven and trusted packaging alternative for health, taste and environment and comes with its own set of advantages that can create a positive impression on the planet and humanity.

Here’s what makes glass a preferred and sensible choice for food packaging:

1. It is 100% recyclable and can be used and reused without losing its purity and quality
2. Glass is nonporous and impenetrable in nature. Meaning when you package food or beverage in a glass container or bottle, the product inside does not come in direct contact with the glass leaving little or no room to cause any harm to the taste, flavour or quality of the product.
3. It is toxic free as it is usually made from all-natural or sustainable material. Drinking from a glass bottle is good for your health as no chemicals from the glass is released into it.
4. Things taste better in glass as glass is considered to be taste neutral and so does not cause the taste of your drink to change when stored in it for long, which usually is the case with plastic or metal bottles.
5. Plastic with repeated use gets old or get cracked but that is not the case with glass bottles. They do not melt in the heat and so are easy to carry when traveling. Also, when plastic lands in landfill, they can take up to 400 years to decompose. But that is not the case with glass bottles. 80% of the glass bottles recovered are made into new glass products and can go from a recycling bin to a store shelf in just 30 days.

As a brand, we are concerned with giving our consumers nothing but the best. And because we equally care for our planet, our product offerings of OMG! Sugarcane Juice have been made available in glass bottles. It’s a step towards doing our bit for the cause of nature while keeping the taste, flavour and freshness of the juice as good as real.