Packaging Comparison Tool
Compare bottled water packaging — plastic, glass, aluminum and carton — on production footprint, recycling rates and real-world sustainability.
PET plastic (virgin)
Cheapest to produce and ship. Lowest end-of-life value — most ends up incinerated or landfilled.
Glass
Inert, infinitely recyclable, best taste neutrality. Heavy weight kills the carbon math on long-haul shipping unless refilled or returned.
Aluminum (single-use)
Highest single-use recycling rate. Recycled aluminum uses ~5% of virgin energy — great when actually recycled, poor when trashed.
Carton (Tetra Pak)
70-90% paperboard from FSC forests, plus thin LDPE and (aseptic) aluminum layers. Recyclable only where carton infrastructure exists.
Refillable bottle + tap
The benchmark. Every other option is judged against this one. Carbon footprint approaches zero per refill after the bottle is amortized.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these CO₂ numbers come from?
Production-footprint figures are rough industry averages from life-cycle analyses (gCO₂e per liter of packaged water). They include raw-material extraction and bottle manufacturing, not transport. Real-world figures vary by recycled-content percentage, plant efficiency and bottle size.
Why isn't glass at the top?
Glass is inert, infinitely recyclable and the best taste-neutral container. But its production footprint and shipping weight are far higher than plastic, aluminum or carton. Glass wins in returnable/refillable systems and on short logistics chains, loses on long-haul retail.
Are bioplastic bottles included?
Plant-based PET bottles (e.g. parts of JUST's cap and shoulder) are included under their host packaging. Fully plant-based bottles are still rare in mainstream water.
