We live in an era of convenience—and that can be great! Ordering on Postmates or being able to heat up leftovers sounds like a much better time than having to go out and hunt for dinner. But in some cases, it can do more harm than good. Looking at you, plastic food storage containers! They are a staple in many households, and while they seem innocent, turns out, if you’re still using those old plastic Tupperware containers, it might be time to consider making the switch to glass. Here’s why.
1. Safety First: BPA and Harmful Chemicals
Plastic containers, especially the older ones, may contain harmful chemicals like Bisphenol-A (BPA). These chemicals can be imposed into your food, particularly when exposed to heat or acidic substances, meaning you’re consuming microplastics, and let’s just say, they’re not good for you.
On the other hand, glass containers offer a safer alternative. Glass is non-porous and doesn’t release any harmful chemicals into your food. So, by switching to glass, you are adding a layer of safety to your and your family’s meals and not worrying about potential health hazards associated with plastic containers.
2. Durability: Glass Stands the Test of Time
When you buy food containers, you want them to last. Plastic containers, over time, can deteriorate. Remember those weird orange spaghetti sauce stains that would never wash out? Kinda gross. And an interesting red flag, considering dish soap can be used to safely and effectively remove oil from the feathers of baby ducklings, yet can’t clean plastic despite exhaustive scrubbing, rinsing and prayer.
Glass containers, however, are renowned for their durability. They are less prone to staining, discoloration, and odor absorption. You can use them repeatedly without worrying about them losing their transparency or functionality. Even after a bunch of uses and dishwasher cycles, glass containers remain crystal clear and reliable.
3. Eco-Friendly Choice
Plastic—we love to hate it. And for good reason—it’s a major contributor to pollution, especially single-use plastics that end up in landfills and oceans. By switching to glass containers, you’re taking a small but meaningful step towards sustainability. Glass is a recyclable, eco-friendly material. When you choose glass over plastic, you’re reducing the demand for single-use plastics and helping to reduce plastic waste.
4. Heat Resistance: Versatile and Safe
Cooking and reheating food is a daily task, and your containers should be up to the challenge. Glass containers were made for this. They can handle a wide range of temperatures, making them perfect for baking, microwaving, and freezing your food. Unlike plastic containers, glass won’t warp, melt, or release harmful chemicals when exposed to heat. You can confidently use glass for all your cooking needs, from lasagnas in the oven to reheating soup in the microwave.
5. Food Freshness: Airtight Seal
Preserving the freshness of your food is everything. Glass containers come equipped with airtight lids that create a secure seal. This seal locks in the flavor and freshness of your meals, whether it’s leftovers from last night’s dinner or your meticulously prepared meal prep for the week.
6. Easy To Clean
Cleaning up after a meal can be a hassle, but it’s a task made easier with glass containers. Unlike plastic, glass doesn’t retain stains or odors. A quick rinse followed by a simple wash with soap and water is all it takes to have your glass containers looking and smelling fresh.
7. They Look Really, Really Nice
Beyond practicality, the aesthetics of your kitchen and fridge matter too. Glass containers just feel like a little luxurious upgrade to your kitchen. Their transparent, minimalist design makes your kitchen and refrigerator appear more organized and visually pleasing.
Glass containers have some definite advantages over plastic: They're nonporous and nontoxic, and therefore can't leach harmful chemicals into your food. They're 100 percent recyclable, and more environmentally friendly. They last longer.
Glass containers have some definite advantages over plastic: They're nonporous and nontoxic, and therefore can't leach harmful chemicals into your food. They're 100 percent recyclable, and more environmentally friendly. They last longer.
New plastics perform well in a variety of applications from high heat to freezing temperatures. Since plastic has a lower melting point, they are more energy-efficient and leave a smaller carbon footprint compared to glass manufacturing.
Glass used for packaging has a high recycling rate compared to other packaging materials. In Europe, the average glass recycling rate is 76%, compared to 41% for plastic packaging and 31% for wooden packaging. When glass is left in the natural environment, it is less likely to cause pollution than plastic.
Because plastics, specifically polyethylene and polypropylene which are the most commonly used, are chemically inert to most substances other than strong oxidizers. But many chemicals are stored in glass, because it's even more chemically inert than plastic.
These chemicals can be imposed into your food, particularly when exposed to heat or acidic substances, meaning you're consuming microplastics, and let's just say, they're not good for you. On the other hand, glass containers offer a safer alternative.
The “microwave safe” label on some plastic containers doesn't mean the product is totally safe from a health standpoint, she added. “Some of the plasticizers and chemicals can transfer from the plastic containers into the food during heating,” Rogers said.
However, glass packaging also has some drawbacks. Firstly, glass is relatively heavy compared to other packaging materials like plastic or aluminum. This can increase transportation costs and contribute to higher carbon emissions. Additionally, glass is fragile and prone to breakage during handling and shipping.
Made of plastic, Tupperware isn't biodegradable, which means it just sits in a landfill forever. It's also not healthy—studies have found that chemicals in plastics can leach into our food, especially when heated, which can contribute to a laundry list of health issues ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease.
Glass is good for consumers' health. Glass is virtually inert and impermeable, making it the most stable of all packaging materials. There is no risk of harmful chemicals getting into the food or drinks that are packed in glass.
Glass is the safest water bottle type because it's chemical-free, made from natural materials, and dishwasher safe. When buying a glass bottle, there are a few things to look for: Has it been tested for lead and cadmium content? Make sure it has been tested and that neither are present – it's that simple.
Glass is a permanent material which is infinitely recyclable, as well as reusable and refillable – reducing waste and saving natural resources. What's more, it's an environmentally friendly material and a true champion of the European circular economy, supporting local employment and boosting regional economies.
Glass can be recycled endlessly with no loss in quality or purity. In 2018, 31.3% of glass food and beverage packaging containers were recycled. In some states, like California, glass bottle recycling reaches over 80%.
Both offer their share of advantages; however, plastic has the advantage when cost is an important consideration for your business for a number of significant reasons. Plastic excels in cost savings compared to glass in three key areas: Production costs. Shipping and handling loss.
Glass has a non-porous surface that doesn't absorb like plastic and can be safely washed at higher temperatures in your dishwasher without melting or warping—most food storage containers made of glass are designed to withstand high heat without breaking. Glad containers are designed to store tiny amounts of dressing.
Do glass containers keep food fresher for longer? Glass is a non-porous material, which means that nothing, including bacteria, can get through it. This helps to keep food fresher for longer and, as food particles will not get trapped within the material, your food will taste better!
Its non-porous surface is very easy to clean and by nature antibacterial. Glass neither absorbs smells and flavours, nor does it leach any toxic chemicals into the food or beverage, simply because no unsafe chemicals are used to manufacture it.
Simply put, glass being inert means that it doesn't react with other chemicals. Recyclable glass jars keep food and drink fresher for longer because, unlike other packaging materials, glass is inert and needs no chemical layer between it and the food in question. It also doesn't affect the taste of any food.
Durability and Safety. Pros: Glass bento boxes are free from chemicals found in some plastics, such as BPA, making them a safer choice for storing and reheating food. They don't absorb flavors or odors and can be easily cleaned.
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