After Plastic, Glass Bottles Are The Next to Be Targetted

GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 12:07

This BBC article provides information on upcoming changes in the liquid packaging industry, in particular for whisky, beer, wine, etc.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53392949

Obviously, the war on plastic bottles continues but I find it interesting that this industry has already identified that the production of glass is not as environmentally friendly as we would like, and even though it can be recycled there are apparently better options out there.
Note: Coca-Cola is not moving this way, indicating that their consumers prefer plastic.

The question is how will consumers feel about buying spirits, wine, beer in some form of paper-based opaque 'bottle' instead of in glass.
I'd be interested in trying them (when they eventually become used here); would you readily accept them or what reservations would you have?

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • whooah1979 on 14/07/2020 - 12:11
    +8

    Drinks tastes better in glass.

    • GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 12:20

      In my view, sometimes yes, sometimes no.
      Sometimes a cold beer in a can is nicer than a bottle.
      But wine in a bottle is 'nicer' than straight from a goon bag.

      I think this is more about larger bottles rather than stubbies (as an example).

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 14/07/2020 - 12:26
        +1

        Metal hip flasks work perfectly well, don't affect taste.

        • aarn on 14/07/2020 - 13:30
          +1

          Except the pewter ones, which will poison you !

      • AS2035 on 27/07/2020 - 20:50

        Even cola taste better in a glass than in plastic cup or a can.. went to a wine tasting and they had cola glasses so we tasted cola from a plastic cup, wine glass or a special cola glass. Cola glass won.

  • pegaxs on 14/07/2020 - 12:15
    +1

    Pretty soon, we will only be able to buy drinks if we bring in our own bottle from home. Kind of like the 7/11 bring your own mug slushie from days past.

    • RM on 14/07/2020 - 12:18

      and that would be made of?

    • GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 12:22
      +1

      That concept was pretty popular in NZ years ago, and I think still is. Take a bottle and refill it with beer, cider, spirits.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 14/07/2020 - 12:29
      +1

      Saw an older couple sneak wine into the cricket, in a Thermos flask.

  • holdenmg on 14/07/2020 - 12:17
    -2

    You can certainly get wine in 187ml Plastic Bottles when flying.
    Unless you are in Victoria and you can't fly anywhere.

    • GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 12:21

      And some mini-bar spirits are in plastic, but I think that will cease over time.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 14/07/2020 - 12:24
    +1

    I've purchased Danzka vodka (duty free). Came in a 1L aluminum flask. Great for keeping in the freezer.

    • GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 13:35

      But aluminium is pretty nasty to produce isn't it?

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 14/07/2020 - 13:37
        +1

        Very cheap to recycle though, a lot less energy than refining the ore and producing the metal in the first place.

  • kahn on 14/07/2020 - 12:31
    +11

    What a strange article. It compares the recyclable paper to non-recycled glass and non-recycled plastic. Why doesn't it compare like-for-like? It seems like the article is more of a PR effort for Pulpex.

    • JimmyF on 14/07/2020 - 13:10
      +2

      Yes not comparing apples to apples.

      Glass and aluminum and very recyclable. The problem is with glass its 'cheaper' and easier to just make new glass :/

      Also all those paper drink products are normally lined with a plastic liner aka take away coffee cups, and can't be recycled via normal means (and just about any means, there are some trial recycling going on).

      These 'new' paper bottles are sprayed inside with some random product inside that is meant to solve this issue. Call me crazy, but any product that stops the plastic going snoggy, is going to cause an issue in the recycling chain. Oh right these are going to landfill.

      Call me crazy, but this move is less about the environment and more about Johnnie Walker saving money in shipping costs. A glass bottle is heavy, a paper one is lightweight.

      • GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 13:40

        The article does state that the "…paper whisky bottle, which will be trialled in spring 2021, will be made from wood pulp and will be fully recyclable…" so I assume this new packaging addresses this problem.

        Reduced packaging weight is not a bad thing; I think it is one reason Coca-Cola considered when they were looking for potential alternatives to plastic.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2020 - 16:52
        +2

        Glass and aluminum and very recyclable. The problem is with glass its 'cheaper' and easier to just make new glass :/

        Along with many other countries, we had a viable glass-recycling industry in Australia, until deal by previous government of Labor stripe sold almost our entire conventionally-extracted gas resource to China.
        Ongoing, sold for small fraction of market value and with appallingly deferred mining royalties to be paid by the companies involved, part of the inept 'deal'.

        Along with no doubt much laughter from the Chinese, upshot was devastating consequence for many businesses here and elsewhere. Also a key-driver for fracking operations, with all that has already involved and will further involve, not least being the unstoppable leakage of methane into the atmosphere resulting from every seam fractured.

        Glass, some downcycling going on, though much will ultimately find way into roadbase and that is at least better than landfill.
        https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-07/recycling-companies-f…
        http://www.glassrecovery.com.au/productsApplications.html

  • Krankite on 14/07/2020 - 13:04

    Wtf is that dude doing pouring coffee into his hands? That gonna leave a burn

  • Fergy1987 on 14/07/2020 - 13:10

    My council wont even recycle my glass bottles. So they go in the general trash.

    • JimmyF on 14/07/2020 - 13:11
      +1

      Say what? You can't put it into the recycle bin? Which council is that?

      • Fergy1987 on 14/07/2020 - 13:12

        Ipswich City Council in QLD - They are useless. You have to take them to some sort of designated glass collection area or whatever. I already have to do that with my plastic bottles, I refuse to do it with the glass as well

        • kahn on 14/07/2020 - 13:17
          +1

          It sounds like you're working for your car. Simplify, man.

          • Fergy1987 on 14/07/2020 - 13:21
            +1

            @kahn: Sounds more like the Council is living in the past. Contemporise Man!

            • GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 13:43
              +1

              @Fergy1987: To be fair and more accurate, your council does recycle glass bottles; they just don't collect them.
              If you are already doing a plastic-recycle run, couldn't you do the glass at the same time? It wouldn't be very often would it?

              • Fergy1987 on 14/07/2020 - 13:44
                +5

                @GG57: Nearest glass collection point is a good 40minutes from my house - Plastic recycling is about 25minutes in the opposite direction.

                In the bin they go

    • AS2035 on 15/07/2020 - 14:49

      Dirty or clean?

  • aarn on 14/07/2020 - 13:35
    +4

    Best solution is make your own grog, then bottle it in those containers you saved from the recyclist

  • [Deactivated] on 14/07/2020 - 14:18
    +3

    Whisky in goon bags, you say?

    • GG57 on 14/07/2020 - 14:32
      +1

      That isn't my reading of the article

  • ilikeradiohead on 14/07/2020 - 15:50
    +1

    I hope they retain liquid better than paper straws.

  • Bystander on 14/07/2020 - 19:04
    +2

    Why don't the "war on waste" people target junk mail?
    I don't know anybody who wants it.

    • GG57 on 15/07/2020 - 10:33

      Nothing to stop you putting a "No Junk Mail" on your letterbox, and encouraging others to also.

      Having said that, I know some people that enjoy flicking through the physical brochures/catalogues.

      • Bystander on 15/07/2020 - 22:49

        Nothing to stop you putting a "No Junk Mail" on your letterbox, and encouraging others to also.

        I've had 2 no advertising signs on my letterbox for years. And most of my neighbours have signs as well.
        It makes no difference. We all still get letterboxes filled with junk.

        When you think about all of the accumulated resources that are wasted in producing and delivering this advertising and most of the time they're just thrown straight in the bin.

        Far less than 5% of mail actually needs to be physical. The vast majority could easily be sent via email. Citibank send my statements via email.

        Stopping junk mail is where environmentalists could achieve an easy win that would have widespread support. Instead they focus on plastic straws etc that have significantly less environmental impact.

        • JimmyF on 17/07/2020 - 09:58

          I've had 2 no advertising signs on my letterbox for years. And most of my neighbours have signs as well.
          It makes no difference. We all still get letterboxes filled with junk.

          addressed mail only sign works for us :)

          If you have a sign up and still get junkmail, complain to each company about their delivery partner in your area not respecting your no junkmail aka addressed mail only sign.

          you're better to get a addressed mail only sign, rather than a no junk mail sign BTW.

  • OzHunterNSW on 15/07/2020 - 12:08

    They devise a survey with leading questions, if that.
    Who are these people surveyed? How many were surveyed? Where? When? How?

    These company "surveys" are a load of rubbish, and I am sick of hearing the excuse, "Our customers prefer…".

    Red Rooster has tiny 250ml bottles, expecting you to wash down their crap, and they too explain the size as, "Our customers prefer"… what utter rubbish. Who would suggest to a company that you are willing to pay the same for less…

    • GG57 on 15/07/2020 - 13:13

      To be honest, I don't know what 'survey' you are talking about. Is it the Coca-Cola statement about consumers' preferences?

    • ozbjunkie on 16/07/2020 - 22:21
      +1

      Reminds me of the "9 out of 10 dentist recommend oral b" commercial, where apparently the survey allowed multiple selection of answers (which isn't in itself a bad thing). This resulted in a situation where it might also be true that 9 out of 10 dentist recommend Colgate.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2020 - 13:15

    God damned hippies. Get outta my life totalitarian left. They'll be making us collect our shit in paper towel and burying it in the back yard next.

    • GG57 on 15/07/2020 - 13:19

      You think hippies are behind this?
      I think it is almost certainly the corporate entities behind these drink brands, identifying a new 'trend' that they want to tap into, that won't deter their core customers too much, and that probably saves them some production or related costs.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2020 - 13:22

        Corporate virtue signalling ie taking a knee to the left. Well (profanity) that I say.

  • LFO on 15/07/2020 - 14:01
    +2

    As usual, there is grog and there is grog.

    Cheapish (in real quality, not selling price) grog/drinks don't really need expensive glass.
    Pour it to drink it. Quickly…

    Exotic, +50 years old drinks DO REQUIRE GLASS.
    Gently pour it to enjoy it.

    It is that simple.

  • tzar on 16/07/2020 - 14:23

    Looks pretty cool honestly. Shattered glass can be a real pain to deal with

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