How our glass jars are helping the environment

Renewable energy sources are a hot topic for the environment at the moment. It’s no secret that packaging is having a negative impact on the planet. Luckily, we are seeing a huge increase in consumers and businesses attempt to reverse its affect. There has been a huge focus on reducing the use of plastic, moving away from single use plastics and opting for alternative materials instead. 

How much of a difference are we really making? 

Typically, you’ll be used to drinking your almond milk in cardboard cartons or plastic bottles that are marked with the recycle stamp. It seems harmless. You drink the milk, you recycle the packaging and then the process repeats without any real consequences. 

The reality may not be as simple as that. In fact, around 95% of manufactured cardboard is discarded after single use. Only around 10% is actually reused. Even when you think you’re helping the environment by using the recycling bin you will never effectively be able to do your bit for several reasons. The main one being that can't be recycled indefinitely. Each time it is recycled and remade its fibres get shorter and can only be effective for between give to seven recycling loops.

How does glass weigh in?

The difference with glass is that it is made from naturally-occurring ingredients such as sand and lime-stone. Plus, it does not perish each time it is recycled making it indefinitely recyclable. It also doesn’t perish in general meaning it can be easily reused before it is even recycled. You can use it in your own home over and over again for multiple purposes without experiencing any real damage to it. 

Better than that, an EPA study focusing on milk containers found that refillable glass uses about half as much energy during its life cycle than the plastic or gable-top cartons. Essentially, it uses far less energy to be made and lasts far longer than it’s alternatives.

The conclusion? 

Anything that can be reused is undoubtably better for the environment. Single use will always be the inferior option. That being said, it’s important to remember that the recycle symbol isn’t as straight forward as we might think. Just because something says it can be reused doesn’t always mean that it can. There are many factors to consider. The best option is to use materials that we can reuse ourselves, with limited chance of them perishing. For this, glass wins. 

Our jars are made from glass and can be reused in your own home or refilled with almond paste!