Glass emissions

Producing glass emits roughly 0.8 kg of greenhouse gases per kilo of finished glass, based on an average electricity mix drawing on several energy sources. But the biggest climate problem with glass comes from transport: because glass packaging is heavy, shipping it releases a large amount of greenhouse gases.

Is glass a climate-smart package?

Several factors decide whether a packaging material is climate-smart. Above all, the packaging must serve its purpose well — protecting its contents — or it risks causing waste, which matters most for food. It should be easy to handle and transport, and weighing as little as possible is a major advantage. Volume matters too: a small amount of an energy-intensive material can be preferable to large amounts of a low-energy one. Finally, recycling is key — how much energy does it take to reuse the material?

The pros and cons of glass

Glass has real advantages. It offers a complete barrier against air, liquids and odours, which makes it an excellent material for storing food. One drawback is that it lets in light, which cardboard packaging does not.

In energy terms, glass is worse than plastic for both production and transport. However, glass has a clear benefit for food because it does not transfer chemicals into its contents, whereas some plastic packaging risks doing exactly that.

Glass bottles and water

When it comes to water, choosing tap water is a big advantage over water sold in glass bottles or cans. And carbonating water at home with CO₂ cartridges remains better for the planet than buying it in glass bottles.

Recycling glass

In some countries, over 90 percent of glass packaging is recycled — a high figure by international standards. It is important to note, though, that recycling glass is energy-intensive. In fact, melting down recycled glass takes almost as much energy as producing new glass from scratch.

Source: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute