Environmental Science
Life Cycle Assessment for Comparing Packaging Materials
Quick fact
A life cycle assessment of beverage containers often shows that a lightweight plastic bottle can have a lower carbon footprint than a heavier glass bottle, even when the glass is recycled—because the energy needed to melt and reform glass can outweigh the recyclability advantage.
Why this is interesting
You've seen the label: '100% recyclable.' But is that the whole story? When it comes to packaging, the greenest choice isn't always the one you'd expect.