Benefits of Glass Bottle Packaging by Industry

Despite rising problems we’re confronting with the environment and public health, as well as the turmoil in the economy, one thing about our future remains near certain: we’ll be using more and more glass packaging.

Glass, which has a history reaching back more than 5,000 years, is one of the most trusted and oldest packaging materials. It’s also one that continues to support human civilization, preserve the environment, and enhance the lives of consumers around the world.

Glass is a genuine pillar of sustainability since it’s an environmentally friendly, reusable, and endlessly recyclable material. This makes it appealing to policymakers, manufacturers, and individual customers alike.

The Background of Glass Bottle Packaging

During the majority of recorded human history, the primary function of packaging was to deliver, store, and safeguard food. It wasn't until the 20th century that producers and manufacturers started to consider marketing and advertising their products, which ultimately led to the development of contemporary packaging methods.

The first glass containers weren't created until 1500 B.C. when molten glass was layered over a sand core to give it the ability to take on different shapes for product storage.

Since then, glass used for food and beverage packaging, household chemical storage, pet product distribution, and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical preservation has risen in popularity and is now a common material for millions of manufactured items.

But what makes glass packaging for storage and preservation so dependable? Since glass is a non-reactive substance, nothing that comes into contact with it will be affected or altered. This quality is especially important for the preservation of container contents. With the correct closure, no air can enter or exit a sealed glass jar, keeping materials fresh, safe, and dry. Consumers now recognize glass packaging as one of the top environmentally friendly and recyclable materials on the market.

General Benefits of Glass Packaging

There are a myriad of benefits to using glass packaging including the following properties:

A Sustainable Material

Glass is a durable material that is endlessly recyclable, reusable, and refillable, which minimizes waste and conserves natural resources.

Glass is an eco-friendly solution for preserving food, drinks, chemicals, pet care products, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and more.

According to a report by Feve, The European Container Glass Federation, the glass packaging business aspires to be climate-neutral by 2050, eliminating as much carbon as it produces. The objective is to work toward zero carbon emissions, but the industry has already made significant progress in decarbonizing its manufacturing. Glass now utilizes 70% less energy and is 30% lighter in weight than it was 50 years ago.

100% Recyclable

Politically and socially, sustainability is a hot topic, which has prompted organizations to intensively review how their goods are produced. Policymakers are laying out frameworks and making decisions to encourage environmental consciousness as businesses and consumers become more aware of the effects of their choices on the environment. There’s a desire to increase package recycling rates, reduce waste, and create circular economy solutions throughout the world.

Glass packaging plays a significant part in this. Despite the fact that most items need packaging to maintain their stability and safety, much packaging is disposable and not recyclable. To decrease waste and lessen environmental impacts, many consumers and companies are already switching to more sustainable packaging solutions.

Glass can be seen as a dependable partner on this journey since it’s a material that’s 100% recyclable and reusable. The glass industry is fortunate to work with a substance that has exceptional built-in environmental advantages and is an entirely desirable packaging option.

Nonporous and Impermeable

Glass is incredibly dependable as a material, particularly for food and beverage packaging, since it’s both impermeable and nonporous. Glass always acts as a strong defense against external influences, preventing any unfavorable changes to the scent, taste, or composition of its contained contents. The inherent strength and rigidity of glass allow it to support and enclose generous volumes of material. These qualities mean that glass containers are some of the most durable and reliable packaging around.

It’s essential that the moisture content of sweet goods such as honey and sugar be preserved. A bag of sugar that’s been exposed to humidity or moisture will turn into a solid brick if it hasn’t been packaged properly, and honey will develop a coating of crystals along its top layer if it hasn’t been appropriately packaged. If you add water to certain food contents, fermentation will take place, but if you remove moisture, crystallization may occur. The use of glass, which is impermeable, is common practice among manufacturers for the purpose of maintaining contents at an ideal level of moisture.

Containers that food and beverage makers fill are often heated to very high temperatures throughout the production process. During the phase of filling a container, this is done in order to sterilize it as well as the contents of the container. As a result, the number of steps in the production process is reduced since separate sterilization is no longer required. As a consequence, manufacturers prefer using solid glass packaging since it’s resistant to high temperatures — porousness and permeability remain unaffected — and the container doesn’t melt during the filling process.

Customizable

Glass is a recognizable, fashionable, and high-end packaging material that stimulates all five senses.

The natural components of the materials contained within glass blend flawlessly with the clear appearance of the material. Glass has a longstanding relationship with the fragrance and cosmetics industries and is synonymous with high-end product pedigrees.

Glass packaging makes products stand out on crowded store shelves because of its fashionable and distinctive embossed designs, eye-catching colors, and forms that support brands in developing a distinctive and genuine identity that reflects the caliber of the products contained within.

Almost every form, color, and texture is possible to achieve with glass. Glass inspires creativity since each use of the material possesses its own unique individuality. By altering the size, neck, body, or bottom of a glass container, for instance, it can be changed from a perfume bottle to a Bordeaux wine bottle or even a jam jar.

Quality

Consumers buy goods in a wide range of packaging, but glass is preferred because of its flavor preservation, product protection, and health effects, according to a recent poll by the EcoFocus Consumer Trends Survey. The following was revealed in the final results of that study:

• 61% of respondents thought glass bottles or jars for beverages protect freshness
• 57% of those surveyed thought that glass bottles or jars for food protect freshness
• 78% thought glass bottles or jars for beverages have either a positive or neutral impact on health
• 75% thought that glass bottles or jars for food have either a positive or neutral impact on health

Benefits for the Food & Beverage Industry

Glass bottles and jars are ideal for the food and beverage industry. Being a nonporous material, glass inhibits chemical interactions with the product, making it an especially popular choice for food storage containers. Consumable items that benefit from the qualities of glass include beer, wine, spirits, elixirs, jams, honey, salsa, sauces, condiments, and sauces.

Glass packaging brings specific benefits of preservation, safety, and convenience in the following ways:

Retaining Flavor, Temperature, and Freshness

Glass helps food and beverages retain their freshness, temperature, and flavor. Aromas and carbonization of liquids are preserved as well, making glass ideal for long-term storage of food and beverages.

Containing No Additives Like BPA or Equivalents

Unlike plastic and metal containers, glass doesn’t contain additives like Bisphenol-A or more modern equivalents that can leech into container contents and endanger consumers’ hormones and health.

Remaining Sterile and Non-Toxic

Newly manufactured glass is inherently sterile and non-toxic — even at very low or high temperatures. From a consumption perspective, it’s an ideal material for consumable product packaging.

Being Reusable and Recyclable

Glass containers are both reusable and recyclable, meaning that for product sustainability, it’s an excellent choice if you plan to reuse or recycle the glass to keep it out of the landfill. In fact, large glass bottles usually have the highest post-use value of any commodity consumer item.

Preserving Freshness

Glass containers have a long history of being used to preserve foods’ freshness, resulting in positive health benefits. Glass is perfect for storing foods for both short or long term at room temperature or in a refrigerator.

Attractive/Luxury Packaging

For higher-end products, such as spirits and olive oils, glass can provide a competitive edge on the shelf. Glass can be molded in different colors, shapes, and sizes to deliver a unique brand experience to consumers. Glass also provides a perceived increase in value due to its weight which consumers identify as a more luxury item.

Keeping Food and Beverages Safe

Sealed glass containers keep consumable items safe from humidity, pests, and airborne contaminants. For more information, this article breaks down additional types of eco-friendly and sustainable food packaging.

Benefits for the Personal Care Industry

Glass is a mainstay in the personal care industry for creams, lotions, serums, and other cosmetics. It’s not an ideal choice for larger items, such as shampoo and conditioner or body wash due to it posing a hazard if it were to drop in the shower and shatter. However, it’s a popular choice for smaller personal care products. Here are some of the benefits of choosing glass packaging for your personal care products:

Keep Formulations Stable

Because glass is a non-toxic material and doesn’t affect the composition of the product contained within it, it’s an ideal packaging choice to keep your product formulation safe and stable. Things to consider about your product formulation would be if your product is light sensitive, you’ll want to make sure you take that into account when choosing your packaging.

Attractive/Luxury Packaging

Glass signifies luxury when it comes to personal care products. It’s heavier in weight and generally costs more as a packaging material, giving the impression of a luxury item and adding value to your product.

Recyclable/Reusable

Across industries, glass packaging is a popular choice due to its recyclability and reusability. Many cosmetic products and designed now with sustainability in mind, selling refillable products to reduce waste. Additionally, glass is 100% recyclable. The problems that arise with glass recyclability have to do with other materials being introduced into the material, such as a glass serum container with metal components or a plastic neck.

Benefits for the Household Chemicals Industry

For the household chemical industry, glass bottle packaging is ideal as far as chemical properties and durability are concerned. The following are some of the main benefits of using glass packaging for household chemicals:

Being pH Resistant

Most types of glass have a pH resistance range of around 3 to 11, meaning that they won’t react or be affected by substances that are basic or acidic within that range, no matter how long they’re stored in a glass container.

Resisting Dissolution, Breakdown, or Corrosion

Glass containers won’t dissolve, break down, or corrode from contact with nearly any substance. This means they’re suitable for storing and transporting many corrosive or hazardous materials.

Storing Liquids, Concentrates, Pastes, Putties, Gums, Waxes, Etc.

Glass containers are excellent packaging for liquids, concentrates, pastes, putties, gums, waxes, and similar contents due to glass’ inherent durability and nonporousness.

Benefits for the Pet Care Industry

Glass bottle packaging is an excellent choice for pet care products as well. Choosing glass packaging provides ideal physical attributes, such as:

Being Impermeable and Nonporous

Most glass containers can have an airtight seal, meaning that odors of food or treats don’t escape and such contents stay fresh for when they’re served.

Leaving No Metallic Odor or Taste

With glass packaging, foods and treats will be free of any metallic odors or tastes that might affect the flavor of the products packaged in metal containers.

Possessing Transparency

Because glass is transparent, pet owners and caretakers can see the condition and quantity of the contents of a container before and after purchase. This is ideal to keep an eye out for spoilage.

Benefits for the Nutraceutical & Pharmaceutical Industry

Glass bottle packaging for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries is ideal. Glass packaging offers a variety of benefits including :

Not Reacting to Contents

Because it’s sterile and inherently non-reactive, glass is excellent for storing sensitive medicinal or nutritional powders and liquids.

Extending the Life of a Product

The durability of glass makes it an excellent choice for the long-term storage of pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals designed to be taken or used over extended periods of time (i.e., months or even years in some cases).

Coming in Customizable Shapes and Sizes

The glass bottle manufacturing process is highly versatile. Shapes and sizes of glass containers are customizable, which is convenient for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products that come in various quantities.

Glass Bottle and Jar Packaging with Paramount Global

As outlined above, glass jars offer a sustainable packaging choice and are versatile across several different industries. Glass offers a greater perceived value compared to other materials due to its heavy weight and because it’s the standard material choice for many luxury and sustainability-centered brands.

At Paramount Global, we partner with businesses of all sizes by offering wholesale glass bottle packaging and complete packaging solutions tailored to your needs. Contact us today to speak with one of our friendly packaging specialists about how we can be a partner to you.