In packaging, most of the attention tends to be paid to the size and shape of the container that will be used for a given product. These are two crucial elements of course – getting the size and shape just right will improve the customer experience and can also help to control material and shipping costs.
However, in working to get the size and shape just right, the substance that your packaging is made up of should not be lost in the shuffle. It could be argued that this aspect is actually the most vital piece of the puzzle, as the right choice can ensure the quality and safety of the product is not compromised. While there are many component options to choose from for your containers and packaging, this post will highlight the numerous advantages of going with glass.
The Basics of Glass
Let’s start with the basics – what is glass made up of? For a material that has such unique properties – such as natural transparency – the recipe for making glass is surprisingly simple. The three main ingredients in glass are sand, soda ash, and limestone, all of which are naturally and abundantly available within the earth.
To turn those raw materials into glass, extreme heat is required. Temperatures that often exceed 2,000°F are needed to melt the natural ingredients down and turn them into a molten liquid that can become glass when it is cooled. What comes next depends on what type of glass is being made – the molten mix can be formed into containers using molds or it can be poured onto a table to make sheets, among other possibilities.
Three Big Advantages of Glass
So, why would you pick glass over alternatives when selecting the right packaging for your products?:
- Purity and product integrity. Glass preserves the quality of its contents, maintaining the original integrity of your product until it reaches your customer. Unlike some packaging materials, like plastic, which may release harmful substances into the product, glass remains safe. This characteristic of glass prevents the degradation of product quality, avoiding issues like altered tastes in foods or beverages caused by their containers.
- No chemical reactions. Scientifically speaking, glass is inert, meaning it does not interact chemically with the things around it. So, for some products that are at risk of interacting with their packaging – such as products that are high in acidity – glass is perfect. Knowing that the glass won’t mingle with the product inside to cause problems or create new, unintended properties, you can send your goods out to customers with confidence.
- Safety. We’ve been talking about how the glass itself isn’t going to interact and cause issues with your product inside the container, but what about things from the outside getting in? Again, the natural properties of glass come to the rescue. Glass is impermeable and non-porous, blocking the external elements from sneaking in and compromising your goods. If you need to package something like a pharmaceutical product, for example, using glass can ensure that the outside world isn’t able to get into the container and significantly alter its effectiveness and safety.
The three points listed above are far from the only selling points for glass containers, but they certainly do make a strong argument for using this material over others. And, when you add these benefits to the reality of how economical glass can be, the choice starts to look like an easy one.
Glass is a Sustainable Material
Sustainability is a huge topic in the modern world, and for good reason. With billions of people on the planet, and the capability of humans to produce so many things that can harm the environment, leaning into products that are sustainable and kind to the earth is a big deal.
Fortunately, glass gets excellent marks in this area. As a starting point, the materials needed to make glass are abundant, so rare resources are not being rapidly consumed when glass is made. Even more important is the fact that glass can be recycled again and again, with no limit. There are other materials that can technically be recycled, like plastic, but they degrade over time as they go through the process. That’s not the case with glass. The material retains its quality indefinitely through each recycling process, time after time.
A Supplier You Can Trust
With an appealing look, the ability to maintain product integrity and safety, modest pricing, and versatile size and shape options, there is simply a lot to love about glass. By working with Glassnow, you can leverage those many advantages to the benefit of your business right away.
We have a huge selection of products across a number of categories, including bottles, jars, candle containers, and more – all made from recycled glass. Place your order today if you are ready to get started, or reach out directly to our team if you have any questions about the inventory we have available. We can’t wait to work with you.