Is Glass Or Plastic More Environmentally Friendly?
Oct 04, 2022
Is glass or plastic more environmentally friendly?
glass:
Let’s start by analyzing every zero waster’s beloved material: Glass. First, it’s important to note that glass is endlessly recyclable, back to its original use.
It never loses its quality and purity, no matter how many times it’s recycled…. but is it actually being recycled?
the truth about glass
First up, making new glass requires sand. While we have tons of sand on beaches, deserts, and under the ocean, we’re using it faster than the planet can replenish it.
We use sand more than we use oil, and only a specific kind of sand can be used to get the job done (no, desert sand can’t be used). Here are some more concerning issues:
Mostly, sand is harvested from riverbeds and seabeds.
Taking sand out of the natural environment also disrupts the ecosystem, considering microorganisms live on it which feed the base of the food chain.
Removing sand from the seabed leaves shore communities open to flooding and erosion.
Since we need sand to create new glass, you can see where this would be an issue.
more problems with glass
Another problem with glass? Glass is heavier than plastic, and breaks much easier during transit.
This means it produces more emissions in transportation than plastic and costs more to transport.
