Glass bottles ‘more harmful than plastic containers’

GLASS bottles harm the environment more than plastic containers or cartons, a study has found.

Researchers analysed the manufacturing and disposal of glass, cartons, plastic and aluminium cans, and found that the energy-intensive manufacturing process for glass made it the least environmentally friendly option.

Manufacturing glass requires mining of silica and dolomite, and the process involves heating it to high temperatures, releasing carbon dioxide.

The University of Southampton study, published in Detritus, a journal focused on waste and resources, examined milk, fizzy drinks and fruit juice to f i nd their most environmentally friendly receptacles.

The scientists concluded that in all three categories there were more environmentally friendly options than glass, even if it had been recycled.

While plastic was found to be less problematic than glass, difficulty recycling it and the harmful microplastics it leaves upon break-up meant it was still deemed bad for the environment.

Aluminium was found to recycle well, and consume fewer resources in manufacturing. The researchers called for recycling rates to rise to make the most of its potential environmental benefits. The current recycling rate for aluminium packaging is 52 per cent.

Lead author Alice Brock said: “Society needs to move away from single-use beverage packaging in order to reduce environmental harm, and embrace the use of reusable containers as standard practice. There should be a move towards reusable packaging to encourage more sustainable lifestyles.”