Glass or plastic?

[neddyw]

Some food stuffs can be bought in either glass or plastic bottles (like tomato sauce). Both types of packaging are recyclable but which is the most environmentally sound taking into account initial production and recycling? It doesnt make any difference to me which type of packaging in comes in but I would prefer to use the one with the least impact.

[chrisrob]

My initial reaction would be to suggest glass as the answer. Looking at the raw materials, silicons (sand) are very plentiful unlike fossil fuels. I believe it is easier to recycle glass but stand to be corrected.
However, the extra weight of glass packaging makes transportation more costly?
I don't know the answer but it's an interesting question.

[wildwood]

I have no clear answer Ned, only more confusion. My initial reaction was also the glass option, but the fossil fuels spend to break down the glass for recycling is also considerable.

Perhaps we should go back to the old days when things like jam, peanut butter and piccalilli came in standard glass jars which could be returned to the shop/factory for re-used.
With computers checking for container damage and light for sterilisation it might come to that yet.

[neddyw]

Thanks for your answers. When I posted this question I thought that there would be a straight forward answer that I should have known and that you all thought I was daft to ask it!! I thought glass would be the tter as it is made from sand but I dont know, like you two,how great the other factors are in its production/recycling.