Did you know?
In NamNam Singapore, we strongly believe in supporting sustainability and that our work can make the difference. A year and a half ago, we initiated the process of material replacement for our plastic bottled table sauces. With all the effort, we got rid of the plastics 8 months ago, having glass material as our pick.
The case for glass:
There are several reasons why glass is viewed as more sustainable than plastic. It has better reusable properties as it is corrosion resistant, more durable, it can be easily cleaned and sterilized in boiling water.
Glass which is mainly made up of liquefied sand, soda ash (naturally occurring sodium carbonate), limestone, recycled glass, and various additives. Glass does not leach unwanted, poisonous chemicals. Unlike plastics which contains bisphenol A (BPA), which is believed to be responsible for disruption of natural hormones in the body.
Furthermore, glass lends itself well to recycling, further boosting its environmental credentials. According to the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), “Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity.”
Having said that, glass bottles are 100 percent recyclable and an estimated 80 percent of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles. Once you toss your glass bottle in the recycling bin, manufacturers can have it back on the shelves in a month. Plus, using recycled glass when making new glass bottles reduces the manufacturer’s carbon footprint — furnaces may run at lower temperatures when the recycled glass is used because it is already melted down to the right consistency.
The case for plastic:
Plastic manufacturing starts off with oil and natural gas. These raw materials are converted into smaller pieces called monomers and are then chemically bonded together to create long chains, known as polymers. These polymers are the plastic you see in the form of water bottles, food packaging, and much more.
The biggest problems with single-use plastics come when bottles are thrown into landfill or, worse, the ocean, and biodegraded into highly damaging microplastics. These tiny substances endure in the atmosphere for many years and can disrupt ecosystems and infiltrate food chains, having potentially huge ramifications even for humans.
Glass alternatives are available for items found throughout the home as well. Come join us now! Choose one or two products to replace with glass variations. Whether you start by replacing water bottles, storage containers or dishware you will be benefiting people and the environment. You can’t go wrong with that!
