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On a basis of grams of plastic to grams of product, I don't see how anyone can claim that they aren't better than plastic bottles. If that's an invalid basis f

On a basis of grams of plastic to grams of product, I don't see how anyone can claim that they aren't better than plastic bottles. If that's an invalid basis for comparison between plastic bottles and aluminum cans, I'm probably not the only person who'd like to know more.

giantg2 2y ago
Ok, but why not use glass instead? That's even lower. With cans you'll still end up with microplastics and chemicals leaching into the soda. You still have the potential for microplastics in the environment even if it's 50% since one side is coated (surface area might be a large factor compared to overall mass if most particles are shed from the top layers. I don't know).
- mauvehaus 2y ago
  Yeah, I'm not really up to speed on how plastic turns into microplastic and how that might work with coated cans either, but it's a fair question to ask. I think one argument against glass is the transportation cost (dollars or carbon, take your pick) on a grams of packaging to grams of product basis. Plus the added volume of both the glass and the packaging required to keep breakage manageable, which is volume that isn't being devoted to product either. A case of wine is 6^H (edit: can't math) 9 liters of wine, whereas a 24 pack of beer in 350ml cans is 8.5 liters is less overall volume and mass. It seems insane to me that you can get a glass bottle of wine from another hemisphere for a single-digit or low double digit number of dollars. Just melting the sand to make the glass seems like it should cost a couple bucks.
  - giantg2 2y ago
    It's possible they're reusing the bottles instead of melting them down. That's what was done a long time ago, and isn't an option with plastic or metal cans. I can see how shipping could be more especially if it needs a cardboard case. Perhaps shipping would be negligible if we had more localized production and less long distance shipping. Rail shipping would likely have a negligible shipping cost difference. Even something like increasing the use of concentrated syrups and fresh made sodas could be a benefit for packing reduction and shipping costs.

giantg2 2y ago

Ok, but why not use glass instead? That's even lower. With cans you'll still end up with microplastics and chemicals leaching into the soda. You still have the potential for microplastics in the environment even if it's 50% since one side is coated (surface area might be a large factor compared to overall mass if most particles are shed from the top layers. I don't know).

mauvehaus 2y ago
Yeah, I'm not really up to speed on how plastic turns into microplastic and how that might work with coated cans either, but it's a fair question to ask. I think one argument against glass is the transportation cost (dollars or carbon, take your pick) on a grams of packaging to grams of product basis. Plus the added volume of both the glass and the packaging required to keep breakage manageable, which is volume that isn't being devoted to product either. A case of wine is 6^H (edit: can't math) 9 liters of wine, whereas a 24 pack of beer in 350ml cans is 8.5 liters is less overall volume and mass. It seems insane to me that you can get a glass bottle of wine from another hemisphere for a single-digit or low double digit number of dollars. Just melting the sand to make the glass seems like it should cost a couple bucks.
- giantg2 2y ago
  It's possible they're reusing the bottles instead of melting them down. That's what was done a long time ago, and isn't an option with plastic or metal cans. I can see how shipping could be more especially if it needs a cardboard case. Perhaps shipping would be negligible if we had more localized production and less long distance shipping. Rail shipping would likely have a negligible shipping cost difference. Even something like increasing the use of concentrated syrups and fresh made sodas could be a benefit for packing reduction and shipping costs.