Benefits Of Using Glass Jars In Packaging

 

Glass containers have been in use since time immemorial. In fact, from whatever little we know, glass containers were used in Southeast Asia even in 100 BCE, that’s long before modern-day glass furnaces were set up. It eventually became the de facto packaging material for foods and beverages and now comes in different forms and sizes.

 

Why is glass used by jar suppliers in South Africa for packaging?

 

• Glass comes from nature: Probably you know this already! Glass comes from natural ingredients available in abundance. The alchemy of these naturally occurring ingredients results in the formation of glass. The fact that no other material or chemical compound is needed for its formation, is perhaps what makes it all the more fascinating and easy to manufacture.

 

• Glass is 100% recyclable: Glass is 100% recyclable and infinitely so with no loss in purity, clarity, or quality. It can be recycled in a loop, time after time, without creating by-products or additional waste. It is perhaps one of the few materials on our planet that can be recycled over and over again without losing its properties or loss of quality.

 

• Glass jars can be reused: Reusing glass jars and bottles reduces the overall impact of the substance on our environment. This heightens the sustainable value of glass many times over.

 

• They are good for our health: For those who do not know, glass is quite inert and impermeable, making it one of the most robust packaging materials and widely used by jar suppliers in South Africa. When products are packed inside glass jars, they are safe from harmful chemicals and other contaminants from seeping in.

 

• Quick turnaround time: This may be hard to believe, but glass jars can go from recycling bins to back to shelves in as little as 30-35 days. In fact, almost 80% of the recovered glass from recycling bins is made into new glass jars and bottles.

 

Why is glass suddenly making a comeback?

 

Despite the wide availability of plastics, the use of glass jars as packaging is on the rise. Why so? Well, we at The Packhouse, cite three main reasons for it – taste, sustainability, and health.

 

• Taste: We briefly mentioned it before, but glass is nonporous and impermeable. It is because of this property that it does not react chemically with the product inside the jars and bottles, leaving the taste of the food or beverage unchanged. That is not all! The material also doesn’t allow any chemical interaction of the product with the outside environment, and thus, the food and beverage maintain their flavour and aroma. In fact, a 2017 survey pointed out that people prefer food items housed in glass packaging, and about 90% of them use glass jars to preserve food items.

 

• Sustainability: The world has grown more concerned about the use of plastics. The fact that plastic bottles not disposed of properly somehow end up in oceans thereby having a negative impact on the ecology of marine life has what urged people to start using glass all the more. On the other hand, glass jars are completely recyclable. As one of the best jar suppliers in South Africa, we too have witnessed a surge in the demand for these.

 

• Health: Over the years, people have started taking note of what’s in the plastics when plastic containers house food products. Bioactive chemicals like BPA and phthalates are of particular worry, and so, they are now actively eliminated from plastic containers. However, whether or not chemicals actually leach from the plastic into the product inside, some people seem to have started deliberately avoiding them and instead opt for glass jars.

 

Where do we fit in?

 

Jar suppliers in South Africa keep seeing new technologies come up in the packaging industry, but glass jars have withstood centuries of advancing technology, and continue to be widely used in many industries. So, if you too are in need of glass packaging options, The Packhouse has always been at the forefront of new branding and packaging initiatives. Connect with us at +27 (0)33 342 7305 for more info about our range of products and services. Call now!