ASSESSMENT AS OF: JANUARY 2024
HOW TO GET STARTED
- Determine your food storage needs - especially for oils, juices, beverages, nut milk
- Target food storage needs that likely exceed multiple large mason jars - you can use mason jars to store liquids, but they are not as easy to drink from or pour from directly
- Find storage space for your unused swing-top bottles
- Grab a small stainless steel funnel set to help pour liquids into your bottles
- Use a grease pencil to label bottle contents and storage date
EMBRACE
- Won't emit microplastics when disposed of
- Won't leach plastics into stored beverages (especially oils or heated liquids)
- Easy to open lids which makes access ideal compared to screw tops
AVOID PRODUCT TYPE
Plastic beverage storage bottle
AVOID
- Will inevitably end up in landfill at end of life
- Will leach plastic into certain foods - especially oils if they are stored in the bottles
- Will develop cracks and stains over a time-limited lifespan
Noteworthy Product Attributes
The bottles will likely last years depending on how they are used. Gaskets can be replaced to extend the bottle's lifespan. Check to see if there are chips around the opening/rim of the bottle to determine if they have reached the end of life.
Overall Sustainability Score - 86 / 100
Score Breakdown
Manufacturing (Score - 10/10) - Made close to its target market of Europe and the US.
Distribution (Score - 10/10) - Made close to its target market of Europe and the US.
Cost (Score - 7/10) - Costs about 50% more than plastic alternatives.
Packaging (Score - 6/10) - Comes in mostly cardboard and paperboard but has some plastic bubble wrap.
Effectiveness (Score - 9/10) - Very effective in keeping beverages safe in an air-tight container.
Lifespan (Score - 9/10) - Swing top bottle lifespans will vary based on how they are used. For example, if used for brewing then their lifespan may be more limited. Gaskets can be replaced and the bottle can continue to be reused for years.
Fun (Score - 9/10) - Swingtops are very easy to use and make bottling and accessing beverages easy.
Relevance (Score - 9/10) - Perfect for air-tight storage of beverages such as homemade juices and nut milk.
Disposal (Score - 10/10) - Unless the stopper is plastic or resin, the bottle will not emit any microplastics.
Recycling (Score - 7/10) - Nearly all components are infinitely recyclable. Removing the metal swing top from the bottle may be necessary for recycling.
