Plastic Beer Bottles: Buy Or Avoid?

Beer is rarely sold in plastic bottles, with the beverage typically found in glass bottles or aluminium cans. However, there are some instances where plastic bottles are used, such as at large events where glass is prohibited for safety reasons, or in certain countries where plastic bottles are more common. Plastic bottles can affect the taste of beer, with beer losing carbonation and becoming flat more quickly in plastic than in glass. Plastic is also more porous than glass, and can be more difficult to recycle.

Plastic beer bottles are used at large events in the UK

Plastic beer bottles are used at large events for safety reasons. When there are thousands of drunk people in extremely close proximity to one another, it makes sense not to give them glass bottles that could be used as weapons.

Another reason plastic beer bottles are used at large events is for environmental reasons. Plastic is easily recyclable (when people bother to) and is cheap and can be moulded into practically any shape.

However, there are some downsides to plastic beer bottles. Plastic is more porous than glass, so beer will go flat sooner in a plastic bottle as the carbon dioxide that makes it fizzy can more easily escape. Plastic is also full of chemicals that could leech into drinks and ruin the taste.

Beer in plastic bottles can go flat sooner

The plastic most often used to store beer, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), also has the potential to leech toxic metalloid antimony into the beverage. When stored at room temperature, this leeching is generally deemed safe, but as temperatures increase, so do the levels of antimony in the beer.

In addition, plastic bottles cannot withstand the pasteurisation process that most beers undergo. The bottles tend to warp when sprayed with boiling water, so the process must be skipped or a more hard-wearing (and expensive) plastic must be used.

While beer in plastic bottles is rare, it is sometimes used at large events and festivals, or in sports stadiums, due to safety concerns about broken glass.

Plastic bottles are more expensive to produce

Additionally, advancements in molding technologies have further reduced the production costs of plastic bottles. These bottles can now be shaped using less heat and in a shorter amount of time, requiring less energy overall. This makes the production of plastic bottles more efficient and cost-effective than glass bottles.

Another factor contributing to the higher cost of glass bottles is their weight. Glass is approximately three times heavier than plastic of the same size. For example, a 2 oz glass jar weighs around 82.2 grams, while a 2 oz HDPE plastic jar weighs only 13 grams. This weight difference has a substantial impact on transportation costs, especially when ordering pallets of bottles in bulk.

Furthermore, glass bottles are more susceptible to damage during shipping and handling. Glass can easily shatter, chip, or crack during transportation, resulting in product loss and safety concerns. In contrast, plastic bottles are more durable and resistant to breakage, reducing potential losses during shipping.

While recycling plastic bottles can help address the cost issue, it is not without its challenges. According to Tim Gutowski, a professor of mechanical engineering, recycling plastic involves two main problems: generating a pure stream of recycled material and ensuring sufficient residual value. The process of isolating the material to be recycled can be complex and labor-intensive, especially when dealing with different types of plastic and various additives in the products.

In summary, plastic bottles are more expensive to produce than glass bottles due to the lower energy requirements, advancements in molding technologies, reduced weight, durability, and the challenges associated with recycling. These factors make plastic a more cost-effective option for packaging, despite the environmental concerns surrounding the use of plastic.

Beer tastes better from glass bottles

Beer is usually sold in glass bottles or aluminium cans. Although beer is sometimes stored in plastic bottles in certain parts of the world, such as the UK, it is not common. This is because plastic is a poor container for beer.

Beer is made from natural ingredients, and so is glass. Glass bottles are made from sand, soda ash, limestone, and recycled glass. There is no need for additional synthetic liners, and there is no risk of harmful chemicals getting into your drink. Glass bottles are also endlessly recyclable and returnable dozens of times.

Glass acts as an effective barrier against external influences. It prevents aromas from escaping and shields the beer from interacting with oxygen, which can make the drink go stale. Glass also protects beer from light exposure, which can make it go "skunky". Amber-coloured glass bottles can provide up to 99.9% protection from UV rays, which is why many crafted brews come in brown or amber bottles.

Glass is also safe and inert. It is a single-layered material that doesn't require chemical liners, so there is no risk of the liners interacting with the beverages. The quality of the packaging remains the same, no matter how many times it is recycled. Glass is also taste-neutral, which means it doesn't chemically interact with what you store inside it.

Plastic Bottles

Plastic is a poor container for beer because it is much more porous than glass. This means that the beer will go flat sooner in a plastic bottle as the carbon dioxide can more easily escape. Plastic is also full of chemicals that could leech into the beer and ruin the taste. For example, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), the plastic often used to store beer, leeches a toxic metalloid known as antimony.

Plastic bottles are also harder to recycle than clear plastic bottles, and they are more expensive to produce than cans or glass bottles. They also can't stand up to the pasteurisation process that most beers undergo.

Plastic bottles are less environmentally friendly

Secondly, plastic bottles are not as easily recyclable as other packaging materials. While glass and aluminium can be infinitely recycled, many plastic bottles end up in landfills or as litter, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose. Even when plastic bottles are recycled, the process is often less efficient and can result in downcycling rather than true recycling.

Additionally, plastic bottles have a negative impact on marine life and ecosystems. Plastic pollution in oceans and waterways can lead to the entanglement or ingestion of plastic by marine animals, causing injury or death. The breakdown of plastic bottles into microplastics can also contaminate water sources and enter the food chain, potentially affecting human health.

Furthermore, plastic bottles may contribute to chemical pollution. Some plastics can leach harmful chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), into their contents, especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. These chemicals can have toxic effects on both human health and the environment.

Lastly, plastic bottles are often associated with a perception of inferior quality and sustainability. Consumers may view plastic packaging negatively, assuming that it indicates a lower-quality product or a lack of environmental responsibility on the part of the manufacturer. This perception can influence purchasing decisions and impact the brand image of companies using plastic packaging.

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