Office supply, procurement

Replacing plastic bottles with glass bottles

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Objectives

• Waste reduction
• Increase in recyclable products
• Reducing air pollution from waste
• Raising citizens’ awareness

Green Value indicator

Eco footprint
Plastic is harmful to the environment, because it does not decompose easily. The type of plastic bottles often encountered are PET, which should only be used once. So, if instead of plastic water bottles or plastic cups staff use reusable glass products, then then the ecological footprint will start to decrease.

Explanation

Each company’s employees consume food and drinks on a daily basis. In a company or organisation that respects the environment, this should be done in ecological ways, encouraging behaviour that avoids single use plastics (plastic plates or cutlery, single use cups…).

In addition to replacing plastic containers with glass containers in production sites, it is also individual consumer’s responsibility to prefer products in reusable glass (or durable plastic) containers to single use plastics.

PROS/CONS of the action

Pros:

• Glass can be recycled endlessy
• The content is better preserved
• No waste is created
• It’s healthier because germs are less likely to proliferate
• The use of glass helps the ecological image of the company
• The use of oil to create plastic makes the product more harmful to the environment

Cons:

• Natural resources such sand, sodium carbonate, limestone are used to make glass, so recycling of glass is crucial
• Glass is heavier than plastic and requires high energy to be recycled

Certified

Not Certified

Link to useful sources

Glass vs. Plastic – What’s the more climate-friendly packaging material? ecochain.com

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