Is reusable beverage packaging better than single–use plastic?
· 3 min read
It's a choice many of us face every day: grab the convenient single-use plastic bottle or take a moment to fill up a reusable container? We intuitively feel one is better, but how much better? A comprehensive new study in the journal Sustainable Futures provides a definitive answer, and the results are crystal clear.
Researchers Ibrahim Issifu and U. Rashid Sumaila conducted a detailed "Life Cycle Assessment" (LCA) to compare the environmental and economic impacts of seven different types of beverage containers. This "cradle-to-grave" analysis examined everything from raw material extraction and manufacturing to transportation, use, and final disposal.