Advantages of Glass Packaging

Glass is often identified as a luxurious or high-end type of packaging. Its clear, sleek appearance and sturdy build give great appeal to consumers. Glass can come in transparent, frosted, or tinted finishes. There are many advantages of glass packaging’s components and a big reason why it is preferred for both businesses and consumers. Deciding which packaging material will best suit your needs? Read a little further or watch this video to see the benefits of glass packaging!

Before anything is bought or delivered, customers want to know that the product and packaging are high quality. Both are important as they become the first items they see, with the performance reflecting on the company. When it comes to packaging, being able to see the product inside can be a reassuring feature and is one of the many advantages of glass and why it can be better than plastic for packaging. 

Glass packaging material is 100% recyclable and does not lose any quality when broken down, making it the most acceptable material to recycle. Glass does not downcycle, unlike other materials, allowing for the same level of quality as the first time it was created.

Growing concerns about the environment are something that has been emphasized to help future generations. With glass made from all-natural materials, it can go a long way to make a better environment become a reality.

Industries that utilize glass, such as food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care, rely on the material's non-toxic components to hold sensitive products. Because glass is non-porous, it has wonderful chemical composition compatibility due to its pure or undiluted form, making it the best option for packaging essential oils, serums, and carbonated drinks. This compatibility allows for increased product storage for long periods of time.

Beverage companies rely on liquor, beer and other beverage bottles and jugs. Glass bottles and jugs are a popular choice for this industry when their beverage requires a hot fill process. This allows the product to be preserved and has an increased shelf life.

Spices, flavorings, and other food products can be used and stored inside glass jars. When a food item is put inside a jar, it can increase the food's shelf life with a tight seal from the lid of choice. When compared to plastic, glass preserves food and its taste for a longer amount of time. Glass is also microwave-safe for easy heating. There is a wide variety of jars available, from wide-mouth and straight-sided to salsa and French square among others.

Pharmaceutical companies rely on packer bottles for medications, mainly in pill and capsule form. Glass is a great choice for this industry because it works with tamper-evident accessories and is considered to be non-reactive. Additionally, amber packer bottles work well to protect medications from UV rays.

Finally, dropper bottles and vials are must-haves in the personal care industry. We have seen the rising popularity of essential oils, commonly used with amber dropper bottles. In this industry, the product inside needs to remain pure, possible by the non-porous nature of glass.

Colors such as amber and cobalt blue limit harmful UV rays, allowing the product inside to remain fresh over a longer period of time. For your product, application, and industry, glass can be a great packaging option.

Some industries such as food and beverage require a hot fill process to increase their product's shelf life and keep their product preserved. Glass has a high heat tolerance without the need for additional additives (a heat-set process). Due to glass's pure form, high temperatures will not warp the containers or have any effect on the product inside.

Glass is made of all-natural materials, is 100% recyclable, and is non-toxic. All of these factors are prominent reasons why glass is a popular choice. Based on how glass is made and constructed, it is less likely that harmful chemicals or other liquids can leak into the bottle or jar. Additionally, glass allows gases like CO2 and O2 to leave the bottle or jar, pointing to its impermeability for liquids or other products.

While there is growing concern about whether or not plastic materials contain bisphenol A (BPA), glass is a reliable material for companies that sell organic, all-natural, or other products that do not want to expose customers to this synthetic.

Glass is a very durable material, which is one of the reasons why it is often selected for packaging items, such as food, for storage. While plastic can degrade or warp over time, glass remains stable and can withstand extreme temperatures – hot or cold.

Glass containers continue to grow as a popular choice for packaging. A study from Globe Newswire found that the entire glass market is expected to total $8.6 billion by the turn of the decade. For the time to come, glass will continue to be a material that people want for their products and packaging.

However, despite the notable advantages of glass as a packaging material, there are some other important factors that companies need to keep in mind before deciding on their packaging material.

Glass, despite its popularity among customers, is expensive to ship. This is mainly due to the fact that it is a heavy material and requires more inside packaging because of its fragile nature.

For example, comparing two bottles (one made of glass and the other made of plastic) can find that they have the same capacity, but a slightly different weight. Even though that weight difference can be perceived as small, when items are shipped in cases or bulk amounts, the costs can indeed begin to add up.

Part #68W16D

16 oz. Clear PET Plastic Tamper Evident
Round Bottle, 38mm 358DBJ

0.069 lbs. each x 50 bottles = 3.45 lbs.

Part #30WD17

16 oz. Tall Pint Glass Milk Bottle, 48mm 48-Snap

0.892 lbs. each x 50 bottles = 44.6 lbs.

Not only is glass a material that is expensive to ship, but it is also expensive in the aspects of production. Because the main method of producing and shaping glass is using heat, the process requires a large amount of electricity.

Also, because it is a heavy material, it can take more effort to get loaded onto trucks and transported to various locations across the world. The longer the distance, the more likely it is to leave a larger carbon footprint, a concern for the environment.

There are advantages and disadvantages of glass packaging. The last thing that people want is products shattering or breaking in transit or by accident. That is why there are warnings on packaging about items that are fragile. This is where glass can be concerning to some.

While glass is durable, it is fragile and has low shatter resistance. It is strong when holding products, but not strong enough to remain intact when dropped. This can have effects on the product inside if it is punctured or comes into contact with broken glass. Because of how fragile glass is, it is important to be careful for the safety of both workers and customers. Corrugated boxes are one type of durable packaging container that protects glass and delicate items.

Whether your product is a beverage, a spice, a food product, or a skincare item, The Cary Company has high-quality glass containers ideal for packaging your product. We have different sizes, colors, applications, functions, and more so that you can find your perfect match. Once you have your container selected, we also offer design services to be your one-stop-shop for all packaging needs!