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GLASS vs. PLASTIC Which is better for the beverage industry?

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Presentation on theme: "GLASS vs. PLASTIC Which is better for the beverage industry?"— Presentation transcript:

1 GLASS vs. PLASTIC Which is better for the beverage industry?

2 Overview Production Production Environmental impacts of production Environmental impacts of production Health effects to workers and consumers Health effects to workers and consumers Recycling Recycling

3 Plastic Resin Production Plastic is made from ethylene. Plastic is made from ethylene. Ethylene is derived from natural gas. Ethylene is derived from natural gas. It is then combined with solvents, other co-monomers and additives and made into a polymer otherwise known as a resin. It is then combined with solvents, other co-monomers and additives and made into a polymer otherwise known as a resin. Resin is sold and made into plastic bottles (PET: polyethylene terephthalate). Resin is sold and made into plastic bottles (PET: polyethylene terephthalate).

4 Fact Plastic Production accounts for 4% of the total US energy consumption.

5 World Consumption of Plastic 1999

6 Glass Production Mix silica sand, soda ash, limestone, aluminum silicate, and minor ingredients. Mix silica sand, soda ash, limestone, aluminum silicate, and minor ingredients. Heat oven to 1500 °F and melt the mixture. Heat oven to 1500 °F and melt the mixture. Transfer to a refiner for further heating. Transfer to a refiner for further heating. Flow melted glass through a furnace and cut into sections for molding. Flow melted glass through a furnace and cut into sections for molding. Pour glass into metal molds and place in a lehr oven. Pour glass into metal molds and place in a lehr oven. When stress areas are removed, cool and use. When stress areas are removed, cool and use.

7 Fact All glass food and beverage containers can be recycled.

8 North American Raw Material Consumption North American Raw Material Consumption for Glass Manufacturing, 1996 Material Tons Sand 12,000,000 Soda ash 4,000,000 Limestone and dolomite 1,750,000 Alumina minerals 750,000 Cullet 3,000,000 Raw Material Consumption

9 Estimated Glass Packaging Production

10 Production Costs Plastic Bottles Total Energy to Produce, Package, Transport: 32 MJ/16 oz bottle More expensive to produce, less expensive to transport. Glass Bottles Total Energy to Produce, Package, Transport: 34 MJ/16 oz bottle Less expensive to produce, more expensive to transport. Producing a pound of plastic resin uses nearly 9 times the amount of energy of producing a pound of glass.

11 Environmental Impacts Plastic Most obvious pollution is waste sent to landfills. Most obvious pollution is waste sent to landfills. Significant releases of toxic chemicals into the air in resin and container production. Significant releases of toxic chemicals into the air in resin and container production. Toxic emissions include Nickel, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene Oxide, and Benzene. Toxic emissions include Nickel, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene Oxide, and Benzene.

12 Environmental Impacts Glass Producing a 16 oz glass bottle emits 100 times less toxins to air and water than producing a 16 oz plastic bottle. Producing a 16 oz glass bottle emits 100 times less toxins to air and water than producing a 16 oz plastic bottle. Fossil Fuels are used to generate the extreme heat needed to make glass containers. Fossil Fuels are used to generate the extreme heat needed to make glass containers. More fuel oils will be needed to transport glass to do its heavy weight. More fuel oils will be needed to transport glass to do its heavy weight.

13 Fact The manufacturing of glass by recycled glass versus raw materials reduces air pollution by 20% and water pollution by 50%. Recycling one ton of plastic drink containers saves 1000 gallons of gasoline.

14 Hazardous Health Effects Plastic Bottles Hazardous to workers: explosions, chemical fires, chemical spills, clouds of toxic vapors. Hazardous to workers: explosions, chemical fires, chemical spills, clouds of toxic vapors. Acetaldehyde migrates from PET bottles into liquids. Acetaldehyde migrates from PET bottles into liquids. Glass Bottles Hazardous to workers: Burns Hazardous to workers: Burns Possibility of glass breaking. Possibility of glass breaking.

15 ?

16 Recycling Plastic Bottles Only type 1 and 2 can be recycled, even though all plastic contains the recycle symbol. Glass Bottles All glass can be recycled. Consumers must sort by color.

17 Fact In 1994, approximately 13.3 million tons of glass waste was generated in the U.S. Food and beverage containers made up 91% of this amount.

18 Plastic Recycling Process Bottles will be color sorted, ground, and washed. Bottles will be color sorted, ground, and washed. PET sinks in the washing process, while contaminates float. PET sinks in the washing process, while contaminates float. PET is collected and then re-pelletized. PET is collected and then re-pelletized.

19 Fact Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, for a total of 22 billion plastic bottles a year!

20 Glass Recycling Process Glass is sorted by color (green, flint, amber). Glass is sorted by color (green, flint, amber). Glass is put through a series of magnets to remove all metal contaminates. Glass is put through a series of magnets to remove all metal contaminates. Filtered to remove small particles and then set through a density separator to remove other contaminates. Filtered to remove small particles and then set through a density separator to remove other contaminates. Crushed into small pieces (cullet), filter processes repeated, and then used for new bottles. Crushed into small pieces (cullet), filter processes repeated, and then used for new bottles.

21 Sorting Color in Glass

22 Plastic Recycling Facts Most plastic bottles are not made into packaging again after the recycling process. Most plastic bottles are not made into packaging again after the recycling process. Slightly less than one million ton of plastic soft drink bottles end up in land fills every year. Slightly less than one million ton of plastic soft drink bottles end up in land fills every year. Estimated that of the 22.4 million tons of plastics produced in 1998, only 5.4% was recovered for recycling. Estimated that of the 22.4 million tons of plastics produced in 1998, only 5.4% was recovered for recycling.

23 America Wasting Away

24 Glass Recycling Facts Recycling glass saves far more energy and resources than recycling plastic. Recycling glass saves far more energy and resources than recycling plastic. In 2001, 22% of the 10.9 million tons of glass produced in the US was recovered for recycling. In 2001, 22% of the 10.9 million tons of glass produced in the US was recovered for recycling. 90% of all recycled glass is made into new packaging containers. 90% of all recycled glass is made into new packaging containers.

25 Fact Each ton of glass recycled saves 9 gallons of fuel. Recycling glass lowers the melting temperature and saves 32% of the energy needed for production of new glass.

26 Misconception about Recycling Large social misconception about recycling plastic. Large social misconception about recycling plastic. Due to the label, consumers think they are buying products that can be recycled. Due to the label, consumers think they are buying products that can be recycled. In actuality, most of these products cannot be recycled and end up in land fills. In actuality, most of these products cannot be recycled and end up in land fills.

27 Suggestions Hazardous Chemicals vs Fossil Fuels Durable vs Breakable Light-weight vs Heavy Slightly Recyclable vs 100 % Recyclable

28 WHAT DO YOU THINK??? Plastic or Glass

29 References http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/ http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/s_apc/sec.asp?Tra ckID=&CID=343&DID=1110&VID=86 http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/s_apc/sec.asp?Tra ckID=&CID=343&DID=1110&VID=86 http://www.mindfully.org/Berkeley-Plastics-Task-Force.htm http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/pet/recycling. html http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/pet/recycling. html http://americanplasticscouncil.org/s_apc/sec.asp http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/glass.htm http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/gla ss.htm http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/gla ss.htm http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/plastic.html


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