🔍 Packaging myths debunked: A critical look at the alternatives

The assumption that one material is inherently "better" than another is the biggest myth. The actual environmental impact depends on the type of use, the transport route , and the recycling infrastructure .

1. 💎 Glass: The myth of 100% sustainability

Glass is considered the epitome of sustainability, as it is made from natural raw materials (sand, lime, soda) and can theoretically be recycled infinitely .

✅ Advantages:

• Recyclability: Glass can be 100% remelted an infinite number of times without any loss of quality.

• Barrier properties: It provides excellent protection for food against external influences and does not release any substances into the product.

• Reusable systems: Regionally used reusable glass has an excellent environmental footprint if it is frequently refilled (at least 40 cycles are necessary).

❌ Disadvantages (The cost of clarity):

• High energy consumption: The production and melting of glass require extremely high temperatures (over 1500 °C) and are therefore very energy-intensive and CO₂-intensive.

• Weight: Glass is very heavy. Over long transport distances, its high weight leads to significantly higher CO₂ emissions than lightweight plastic packaging.

• Single-use glass: Single-use glass (even recycled) often performs worse than PET reusable bottles because the transport and energy costs are too high.

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2. 🧪 Plastics: The challenge of the circular economy

Conventional plastics (such as PET, PP, HDPE) are lightweight and energy-efficient to produce, but have a massive disposal and recycling problem if they are not collected separately by type.

✅ Advantages:

• Weight: Extremely light , which drastically reduces transport emissions (important for long distances).

• Product protection: Excellent barrier properties that keep food fresh for longer and thus prevent food waste .

• PET reusable bottles: In many studies, PET reusable bottles have a better environmental footprint than glass reusable bottles if they are refilled often enough.

❌ Disadvantages (The problem of disposal):

• Raw material: Mostly fossil-based (petroleum).

• Recycling rate: Although technically possible, the actual recycling rate and the quality of the recyclate are often low in practice (especially with mixed materials).

• Environmental pollution: The danger of microplastic pollution and littering of the environment is the biggest problem.

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3. 🌱 Bioplastics: The myth of compostability

Bioplastics encompass two different concepts: bio-based (made from renewable raw materials such as cornstarch or sugar cane) and/or biodegradable (compostable under certain conditions).

✅ Advantages:

• Resource conservation: Bio-based plastics replace fossil raw materials with renewable alternatives.

• Compostability (theory): In industrial plants, biodegradable plastics can decompose (into CO₂ and water).

❌ Disadvantages (The reality of disposal):

• No humus: No valuable humus is produced in the composting plant.

• Sorting problem: Most bioplastics are NOT allowed in the organic waste bin (they do not decompose quickly enough there and disrupt the process).

• Recycling killer: In the yellow bag , they are sorted out as foreign material and interfere with the recycling of conventional plastic, which is why they are often burned.

• Cultivation: The production of bio-based plastics can compete with food production (food vs. fuel debate).

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⚖️ The conclusion: Sustainability is context-dependent.

The most sustainable packaging is not the one made with the "greenest" material, but the one that:

1. Avoidance: The first thing to avoid is (Zero Waste / Unpackaged).

2. Reusable: In second place is the reusable system with short transport routes.

3. Circular economy: In the single-use sector, it is optimally adapted to the existing recycling infrastructure (single-type and lightweight).

The rule of thumb:

• Regional & Heavy: If the product is regional and frequently refilled (e.g., milk, yogurt), reusable glass is often the best choice.

• Long-distance & Lightweight: For long transport routes or highly perishable products , lightweight reusable plastic (PET) or single-material single-use plastic (with a high recycling rate) may be the more ecologically sound choice.