A newly released life-cycle inventory (LCI) of single-serving soft drink containers concludes that PET plastic bottles offer a better environmental footprint than aluminum cans or glass bottles by using less energy, generating less solid waste, and creating significantly fewer greenhouse gases. That’s according to the PET Resin Association (PETRA), which commissioned Franklin Associates to conduct cradle-to-grave study.
The LCI http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_cycle_assessment compared total energy, solid waste, and greenhouse gas emissions per 100,000 oz of soft drinks packaged in typical 20-oz PET bottles, 8-oz glass bottles, or 12-oz aluminum cans. The PET bottles showed appreciably lower numbers across the board, says PETRA.
