Why We Use Cans, Not Glass Bottles
We ship beer in 330ml aluminium cans, and people ask whether glass would be greener. We looked into it. The honest answer: it depends on where you live and whether you recycle.
What The Research Says
We expected a clear winner. We didn't. Some studies favour aluminium: it is lighter to transport and recycling it saves 95% of the energy of making it new. Others favour glass: it takes less energy to produce, and across Europe it is recycled slightly more often.
The single biggest factor is whether your country runs a deposit return system. Countries that do hit 90% or more for both materials; countries that don't lag behind.
| Country | Cans | Glass | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 99% | 90%+ | Yes |
| Belgium | 98% | 90%+ | Yes |
| Netherlands | ~80% | ~80% | Yes |
| France | Below 50% | ~75% | No |
| EU average | 76% | 80% | — |
How They Compare
Weight: a can is 10 to 15 grams, a glass bottle 180 to 250, about eighteen times heavier, so glass burns more fuel on every delivery across Europe.
Recycling: both can be recycled endlessly without losing quality, but recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy against 25 to 30% for glass, so aluminium's edge grows the more it is recycled, and shrinks where recycling rates are low.
Production: from raw materials glass wins, because making aluminium from bauxite is energy-intensive and the mining is harmful. Once aluminium enters the recycling loop, though, it stays there efficiently.
Why We Chose Cans
We chose cans for practical reasons: they are the standard in European craft brewing, lighter to ship, and they don't break. The 330ml format is consistent across our whole catalogue, and a dented can still works while broken glass is total waste.
Is it the greenest choice? It depends on where you are. In Germany or Belgium both perform excellently; in France, without a deposit system, both underperform.
The one thing that definitely matters: recycle your empties. That single habit has more impact than which packaging you pick.
In Short
- Studies split on cans versus glass; the deciding factor is your country's deposit-return system.
- Cans are far lighter to ship, and recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy against 25 to 30% for glass.
- Whichever you choose, recycling your empties matters more than the material.
Sources
- Metal Packaging Europe and European Aluminium
- FEVE, Close the Glass Loop
- Sensoneo, Deposit Return Schemes in Europe
- Eurostat, Packaging Waste Statistics
Pour something worth recycling. Browse the range and return your empties.