The Glass Is Always Greener

In the 1970’s there was a big push for everyone to stop using glass. Glass was bad! Plastic was the new golden child! Everyone all over the world was demanding plastic. Even in the supermarket, the battle continued with the option of “paper or plastic” bags. The plastics industry took over like an invasive weed. According to the Glass Packaging institute, glass bottles and jars are 100 % pure, made of sand, soda ash, limestone, and recycled glass. They are endlessly recyclable! This makes glass containers an idea choice for you and our planet. Glass is the ideal package for organic foods and beverages as it does not leach the chemical from the plastic container into the product. The glass can also be reused and recycled infinitely. Consumers who recycle glass bottles and jars make a significant impact in the amount of waste they no longer contribute to landfills when using plastic. There is also big energy savings when recovered glass is used to make new bottles. The glass container industry in the U.S. set a goal to use 50 percent recycled glass in the manufacturing of new glass bottles and jars by the end of 2013, which will make glass bottles and jars even more sustainable! In this segment of The Organic View, I will interview Mr. Joseph J. Cattaneo, President of the Glass Packaging Institute. He will discuss the resurgence in popularity in the organic industry, the GPI sponsored blog, “Keep It Organic “, how to properly recycle glass, Recycle Glass Week, and the health benefits of choosing products with a glass bottle or jar as opposed to plastic. Stay tuned!