Industries as diverse as food production and pharmaceuticals rely heavily on glass packaging in their shipping processes. Bottles, jars, and other types of packaging are used to transport everything from wine to perfume.

This popularity is a result of glass’s unique characteristics. It can be recycled and shaped in a wide variety of ways, and it protects its contents from contamination with its nontoxic, nonporous surface. Glass packaging can even preserve scent and carbonation over long periods.

However, glass packaging is more expensive than paper and plastic alternatives and more vulnerable to damage. Paper and plastic packaging are also far easier to produce, requiring less energy and production time overall.

In this article, we examine the many pros and cons of glass packaging and explore the benefits of plastic alternatives.

What Is Glass Packaging?

Glass packaging is typically made using a combination of limestone, sand, and trona. These ingredients are melted together and shaped into containers of different shapes and sizes, including jugs, jars, bottles and tubes. Cardboard and other materials are also used to keep the glass stable and supported during transportation.

Glass packaging is used heavily in industries where it is important to protect the contents of the package from external contaminants. This material is nontoxic and nonporous, making it ideal for various products, particularly liquids. Glass can preserve certain types of goods not suited for plastic or paper.

Advantages of Glass Packaging

As with other packaging materials, glass brings a host of benefits to the world of packaging, making it a valuable option for businesses involved in pharmaceuticals, personal care, and more. These benefits include:

• Product Preservation and Safety: Glass packaging is nonporous, meaning there are no microscopic holes for fluids and contaminants to leak through. Glass itself is also nontoxic and chemically inert, so the packaging will not impact the quality of the goods being transported. Businesses choose glass packaging to preserve the quality of medication, the scent of perfumes, and the taste of food.
• Recyclability and Sustainability: Glass packaging can be recycled without degrading into its base components. As a result, material extraction and manufacturing processes can be scaled down. Existing glass containers can be broken down and reshaped to create new ones, reducing overall energy expenditures and environmental impact.
• Aesthetic Appeal and Branding: Customers may view products with glass packaging as more reliable, high-quality, and valuable, and these qualities can be further enhanced by unique shapes and designs on the surface of the glass. Many businesses lean into these qualities and customization options to build a brand and connection with their audiences.

Disadvantages of Glass Packaging

Despite its many upsides, glass packaging is not without flaws. The disadvantages of using glass as a packaging material include:

• The Risk of Breakage: While glass packaging is stronger than many varieties of glass you encounter daily, it is still more breakable and potentially harmful than plastic or paper options. Extreme temperatures can warp or damage glass, but the main threat comes from physical impacts. Should a glass container shatter, the pieces can cause injuries and damage other items being shipped. Breakage also means the contents of the container are exposed to contaminants or potentially lost.
• Higher Weight and Transportation Costs: Glass packaging is denser and heavier than its plastic and paper counterparts. As a result, it costs more to transport, and the supportive packaging used to lower the risk of breakage only increases the cost. Glass packaging’s weight and occasionally obtuse shape may also mean less product can be shipped at once, further raising overall costs.
• Increased Energy Consumption: Creating glass packaging requires higher energy expenditures than plastic or paper, making it more expensive, even when recycling. In fact, remelting accounts for 75% of energy consumption during glass production. When compounded with increased transportation costs, glass packaging may be impractical to manufacture for some businesses.
• Long-term Sustainability Concerns: Glass’s recyclability positively impacts the environment. However, over its entire lifespan, glass may be less sustainable than plastic and paper alternatives. Millions of tons of glass containers end up in landfills rather than recycling centers. Production and transportation are the other culprits when it comes to environmental damage, as creating and shipping glass packaging expends far more energy than paper and plastic do.

The Power of Plastic Packaging

Choosing the right packaging material is all about protecting goods and reducing overhead costs, and in many cases, the best option for both is plastic. Plastic packaging offers:

• Reliable Durability: Unlike glass, plastic packaging can absorb impacts without cracking, chipping, or shattering. This durability can protect it and the goods within during the shipping process. 
• Flexibility and Weight: Plastic can be easily worked into a variety of shapes, often making production more efficient. Its low weight also means it can usually ship in greater quantities than glass packaging.
• Low Price Point: Plastic’s ubiquity makes it cost-effective to produce and transport. Large quantities can be fabricated at once, reducing costs. Thanks to plastic packaging’s low weight and ease of transport, shipping costs are also lower, making it an excellent option for businesses looking to decrease overhead costs.
• Recyclability: Much like glass packaging, plastic can be recycled. Companies that engage in responsible and consistent recycling practices cut down on manufacturing costs, reduce their carbon footprint, and create a sustainable brand image, which is important to the modern consumer.

These traits make plastic a top packaging material choice for many companies. Plastic can carry and protect a wider variety of goods than glass while also being easier and more sustainable to make and transport.

Package Your Products With The Plastek Group

If you are weighing the advantages and disadvantages of glass packaging, you may find plastic to be a better fit. Plastic excels as a packaging material when it is customized and molded to fit your precise specifications. Finding the right manufacturing partner can help your company maximize the benefits of plastic packaging.

At The Plastek Group, we design and produce plastic packaging for a range of industries, including personal care, health and beauty, home care, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical, and food and beverage. We offer numerous professional packaging capabilities to meet your company’s unique needs, such as package design and development, molding and assembly, and tool building and moldmaking.

We have been family-owned since our opening in 1956, and we pride ourselves on building strong, professional relationships with all of our partners. To learn more about our packaging process, fill out our contact form or call us at 814.878.4400.