A study by BASF said plastics had advantages over returnable glass bottles

A study by BASF said plastics had advantages over returnable glass bottles

A study by BASF for diary group Alois Mьller, maker of Mьllermilch, has delivered a positive endorsement of the company’s plastics packaging. The study, the latest of more than 200 that BASF has carried out, showed that 500ml plastic tubs of either polystyrene or polypropylene were a ecologically efficient than returnable glass containers and composite cartons.

While the environmental impact of the three types was similar, plastics offered a slight ecological advantage in emissions and land use. The study was conducted against the background of the ongoing debate over Germany’s compulsory deposit scheme for non-returnable drink packages.

BASF concluded that “imposing a compulsory deposit on containers for milk based drinks would not be a rational move. On the contrary, they merit classification as an environmentally friendly form of packaging.”