eli5 Why are glass bottles not used more for soft drinks if plastic is such a nightmare for the planet?
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When you think about the cost of a highly refined commodity remember the cost tends to be proportional to the energy requirements for manufacturing it. They have been so optimized that the cost is close to the cost of the oil used to mine, refine, melt, form, and ship the material.
So by that logic switching to glass might not be better for the environment. Yes we would get less environmental plastic pollution but we would get more co2 and methane.
This is just a heuristic though to start your reasoning with. The details matter. I’m just saying when you hear claims like this about something being better for the environment BUT it costs more you should immediately ask “does it cost more because it uses a lot more oil to make” if so then is it actually better for the environment. The answer to that might be no. But it might be yes.
I’ve just started getting my milk delivered in glass bottles. This was a conscious decision. The empties are collected by the dairy, full bottles left in their place; empties go through automated sterilisation and washing process and then refilled for next delivery rota. In my younger days I worked as a milk delivery boy, seem to have gone the full circle.
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