Which packaged Coke is better? Glass bottles vs Cans vs Plastic bottles

April 15, 2024

Coca-Cola is a world-famous carbonated beverage brand produced and sold by The Coca-Cola Company of the United States. Coca-Cola is not only a beverage brand, but also a cultural symbol and global business giant. Its products and brands have far-reaching impact. In the eyes of the general public, apart from the differences in brand and manufacturer, Coca-Cola is refreshing and stimulating to the taste buds. But in fact, colas sold in the market with different packaging materials, even if they are the same brand and the same manufacturer, have different tastes. The three most common types of packaging are glass bottles, metal cans, and plastic bottles. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of packaging from three aspects

Carbon Footprint

Specific carbon footprint data will be affected by a variety of factors, including production processes, energy sources, raw material types, transportation distances, etc. Different studies and data may vary, but here are some common estimates for reference only:

Glass Bottle

The carbon footprint per kilogram of glass is approximately 0.46 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2eq/kg glass). The carbon footprint of a typical 330ml glass bottle is approximately 0.13kg CO2 equivalent.

Aluminum cans

The carbon footprint per kilogram of aluminum is approximately 11 to 13 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2eq/kg aluminum). The carbon footprint of a typical 330ml metal can is approximately 0.35 to 0.4 kg CO2e.

Plastic Bottle

The carbon footprint per kilogram of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is approximately 0.33 to 0.42 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2eq/kg PET). The carbon footprint of a typical 330 ml plastic bottle is approximately 0.11 to 0.14 kg CO2 equivalent.

Environmental Protection

The importance of paying attention to environmental protection lies in maintaining the sustainable development of human society. It has far-reaching impacts on protecting the ecological environment, maintaining health, ensuring resource utilization, and curbing climate change.

Glass Bottle

Glass bottles can be reused or recycled and have less impact on the environment, but they are heavier and have higher transportation costs.

Aluminum Cans

Metal cans can be recycled, but they may also cause certain pollution to the environment, especially waste water and waste gas generated during the production process.

Plastic Bottle

Compared with glass bottles and metal cans, plastic bottles may be less environmentally friendly because some plastic bottles are difficult to degrade and can easily cause environmental pollution.

Taste

As a carbonated drink, Coca-Cola must be filled with a certain amount of carbon dioxide before leaving the factory. Its greatest essence lies in the carbonic acid component! The essence of Coke lies in the carbonic acid component. The higher the carbonic acid content, the better the taste.

Glass Bottle

Glass bottles, this material has stable inorganic chemical properties and will not react chemically with food. It has good sealing and airtightness, which can ensure the content of carbon dioxide.

Aluminum Cans

Metal cans have good sealing properties and can effectively isolate outside air and maintain the freshness of food. When drinking bottled Coke, the Coke is poured directly into the middle and back part of the tongue, and the tip of the tongue does not feel the richness and comfort of the Coke; while for canned Coke, you need to drink it slowly one by one, and the Coke touches the front part of the tongue because the The taste buds are richer and are more sensitive to bubbles and sweetness, so canned Coke tastes better.

Plastic Bottle

The sealing performance of plastic bottles is average, and compared to glass bottles and metal cans, the preservation effect may be slightly inferior. Plastic has a polymer structure and is more likely to leak carbon dioxide than metal cans, so the taste will be worse!

Conclusion

If you are an environmentalist, then aluminum cans are the best choice. They’re easy to recycle and transport, and taste great, especially when chilled. But if recycling aluminum cans isn’t an option for you, then you should opt for glass bottles instead. In addition to being fully recyclable, glass bottles are made from non-toxic raw materials.