the olive oil I have been using for years just switched from glass to plastic bottles. this action is a pet peeve of mine and I no longer support a company that does so. anyone feel the same, or should I just accept this as a sign of our economy? 
products switching from glass to plastic upset you?
- Thread starter Chuckaluck
- Start date
I won't purchase any alcoholic beverage that comes in plastic.
If they don't care enough about their product to put it in glass, then it is not worth buying.
unfortunately it is a function of transportation cost, glass is heavy, and adds a bunch to the shipping bill.
If they don't care enough about their product to put it in glass, then it is not worth buying.
unfortunately it is a function of transportation cost, glass is heavy, and adds a bunch to the shipping bill.
I also prefer glass to plastic.
Even if I assume that the plastic is inert enough not to affect the product, and I really don't know if that is true or not, I just plain like the look and feel of glass. It also makes me feel the company has a bit more respect for it's product.
I wonder if they do it because it's cheaper or if they are worried that someone will break the glass, hurt themselves, and sue. Maybe both. Probably cheaper to ship as well.
So, if I am buying something I don't care too much about (e.g. Ketchup) then OK, let it be plastic. If I am buying a bit of luxury (e.g. aged Balsamic vinegar) then I want the fancier glass bottle.
Even if I assume that the plastic is inert enough not to affect the product, and I really don't know if that is true or not, I just plain like the look and feel of glass. It also makes me feel the company has a bit more respect for it's product.
I wonder if they do it because it's cheaper or if they are worried that someone will break the glass, hurt themselves, and sue. Maybe both. Probably cheaper to ship as well.
So, if I am buying something I don't care too much about (e.g. Ketchup) then OK, let it be plastic. If I am buying a bit of luxury (e.g. aged Balsamic vinegar) then I want the fancier glass bottle.
If the contents are unaffected (don't react with the plastic) I can't see the problem, unless you're buying it for the sex appeal of the bottle. Olive oil would be pretty inert, I'd think, and unlikely to be affected. Do you honestly take it as a sign of disrespect for the product? At the end of the day, they've got to make a buck and they've got to price the product to sell. Glass is really heavy to ship.
- Chris
- Chris
I don't care if 409 or ketchup comes in plastic, but if they put jack daniels in plastic, they just lost a customer
I agree, plastics sucks on many levels. Glass is where it's at.
Well, look at it this way -- have you ever gone "antiquing" and spent some time looking over a bunch of old uniquely shaped and colored glass bottles? Would you spend the same amount of time looking at plastic bottles?
I don't like plastic containers. Given the choice, I'll always choose glass.
If they don't think their product is worth the extra cost of elegant packaging why should I?
As I said, in many cases I agree plastic is the right choice -- things where the price difference is more important.
If these manufactures are switching to plastic containers, shouldn't there be some type of price difference, since plastic is cheaper, lighter etc. Yet they will price the amount for what it was in the glass container?
Maybe that's as opposed to raising the price to keep up with rising costs.
But of course they will shine the best light on it they can: "NEW! Unbreakable bottle!"
This of course goes back many decades. I can remember something from the 50's or 60's switching to plastic (bleach?) that advertised both unbreakable and easier to lift. And they were right!
For a quality feel glass is hard to beat but I have this nagging feeling that in a lot of cases plastic would be the 'green' choice....
Even writing this makes me feel a lttle sick though.
Even writing this makes me feel a lttle sick though.
I've wondered about that. My recycling center doesn't take plastic milk jugs. They don't don't accept wine bottles or other glass that doesn't have CRV (california redemption value) on the label either. Then of course is the recycling process itself. I honestly don't know which one is better.
Getting hard data is not easy, maybe partly because plastic has a bad rep with ecological responsible people.
The amount of (extra) energy needed to produce or recycle glass combined with the much higher transportation energy consumption make glass not very green when used in a one-way packaging. Just like paper glass has a much greener image than it deserves.
When it comes to plastics it depends a lot on what type is used.
Overhere we recycle both glass and plastics btw.
Are you willing to pay 30, 40 percent more for that product, or would you prefer to keep the price the same but have the packaging change?
I can think of hypothetical products with either answer, although 30%-40% is quite a big difference in price. I don't think a $200 bottle of Scotch Whisky would differ by that much, especially given that the glass bottle is already in a wooden box!
But maybe a travel size bottle of aspirin? For that I'd prefer the plastic.
Yes and Yes, and also because delivery men who hurt their backs carrying heavy cases of glass bottle product were costing companies workmans comp money. Plastic also weighs less so shipping costs less.
I for one hate the transition from glass to plastic. Each time this happens we are going from something that is refillable/recycleable to something that is just thrown away in a landfill or if lucky ends up recycled as a park bench somewhere. Product sold in glass has better staying power and taste than plastic because I don't care how much they claim plastic is impermeable, it still breathes and interacts with the surrounding air which affects the product.
BrSpiritus
When I become king of the world, everything will be packaged in reuseable containers. Kind of like the old milk and soda bottles that where used over and over the recycled. I would also require all milk, soda, beer, spirits and shave products to be delivered daily to our door steps. I might even be so bold as to require cigars to be included with the delivery.
I generally prefer glass but as I often buy things when back home in Canada and have to stuff my suitcase full of goodies to bring back to Japan I sometimes prefer plastic just for the weight factor (and the fact that it doesn't break). All things being equal however I would definitely take the glass. 
