Comment by Swoerd123
This is common for a huge number of products, ranging from cosmetics, consumables, pharmaceuticals, bottled water, etc.
This is common for a huge number of products, ranging from cosmetics, consumables, pharmaceuticals, bottled water, etc.
That's an interesting tidbit. Every time there is a suggestion we switch to reusable glass bottles instead of plastic, someone raises the issue of the extra weight of the bottle which will lead to greater carbon emissions during transport.
But if, as you say the largest emission comes from manufacturing the plastic bottle, not the transport of the bottle AND the content; then it seems possible to lower the carbon footprint by switching to glass (on top of the other advantages like reducing landfill use/litterring/environmental pollution).
>someone raises the issue of the extra weight of the bottle which will lead to greater carbon emissions during transport
Lmao, that's on the order of 1-2%.
For carbon footprint also, I believe. For bottled water at least, manufacturing the bottle has by far the most environmental impact, even more so than the shipping/transportation part of the process (which you'd think would be severe, as water is heavy).