What is the best packaging for ready to drink beverages?

Primary packaging for the sale of ready to drink beverages generally comprises one of the following packaging materials:

•PET

•Glass

•Cans

•Cartons

So which is best?

The answer to this question often depends on the product, packaging suitability, what you choose to measure, the success criteria or, depending on who is asking the question, what you want the preferred answer to be.

Recyclability, impact on the environment, sustainability, cost or total carbon footprint may each produce different answers to the same question.

For example - If we consider the weight of packaging per litre of product, then how does PET compare to the other materials? And, as you increase the volume of the container, can all formats compete and does the answer stay the same? Unrecycled PET going to landfill or discarded carelessly is known to have a long-lasting environmental impact, which we all agree needs to be addressed.

Each type of packaging material has its own advantages and disadvantages, all of which can be argued independently. But are we not looking for the best overall solution?

How do we safeguard what is best for not only now, but for the future?

Maybe the question needs to be ‘Which primary packaging is the best compromise?’

This article is posted to stimulate ‘Water for thought’, please add your comments below.