Today, there are many different versions of what material should be made of containers for drinks, in particular for mineral water. Some myths are confirmed, some are refuted.
In fact, mineral water is the same from the same manufacturer, no matter what packaging it is sold in. After all, it is extracted from the same source. To understand the effect of the packaging material itself on the product, it is worth considering their characteristics separately from each other.
Glass containers
More recently, mineral water was produced exclusively in glass, until plastic bottles appeared, which today represent a serious counterbalance to the packaging we are used to. The main reason why the glass has not yet faded is due to the prejudice of the conservatives.
The main advantages of glass bottles are the variety of possible shapes and volumes, environmental friendliness. Also, glass significantly extends the shelf life of the product. The maximum shelf life of water in such a package is up to two years.
The drawbacks of such a container are less convincing, but, nevertheless, they exist. This is both the fact that such packaging breaks with mechanical damage, and a rather large weight and volume compared to plastic, which can be twisted when thrown into the trash can.
As for the impact on the environment, and therefore on our health, then it can be noted that glass does not decompose without a special influence on it, it can retain its structure for several hundred years.
Glass packaging can be used as many times as necessary, provided it is intact. Also, it must be well sterilized before each new use. If the glass is damaged, then it can be used as a recyclable material for the manufacture of new products, including containers. However, this process is quite costly.
Plastic containers
Mineral water is poured into food grade plastic, of which there are several types: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The latter, due to its qualities, has become the most widely used. It can successfully compete not only with other types of plastic, but even with glass.
The main advantages of PET packaging are its weight: 32 g in a liter bottle (while in a glass bottle - 500 g). Such plastic is transparent, which is also important in mineral water spills. No additional measures are needed to preserve the integrity of the bottles.
The negative is that oxygen and ultraviolet light pass through the transparent plastic (and the glass holds them). It is these shortcomings that can affect the composition of trace elements in the water. You can store water in plastic for only 1 year.
Despite the fact that PET is considered the most harmless plastic, doctors recommend using it only once due to the fact that it is difficult to completely wash it and remove the microbial environment.
Recycling of such material is quite costly, and it is more economically profitable for this to occur on a production scale.
