Microplastics present in drinks packaged in glass bottles are attributable to the color used on bottle caps as a substitute of the bottle, in response to an announcement by the All India Glass Producers’ Federation (AIGMF). The business physique issued the assertion in response to studies which said that drinks — water, soda, iced tea, wine and beer — saved in glass bottles had greater plastic content material than glass bottles, citing a research by the French company ANSES.
The AIGMF cited the ANSES research and responses from its EU counterparts to reiterate the protection of glass utilization in packaging. Based on the findings of a research by Boulogne-sur-Mer unit of the ANSES Lab for Meals Security in France, “Microplastics are current in all drinks, however these packaged in glass bottles include extra microplastic particles than these in plastic bottles, cartons or cans.”
“The research is obvious that the extent of microplastics discovered within the bottles examined is linked to the metallic caps/closures of the bottles, and never from glass packaging,” AIGMF mentioned in its assertion.
On probing this distinction, researchers concluded that the microplastics had most likely originated from the metallic caps on glass bottles — and extra particularly from the paint on these caps.
In its response to the ANSES research, the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE) additionally mentioned that microplastics in glass bottles was “linked to metallic caps/closures of the bottles and never from glass packaging itself.”
Urging stakeholders to know the manufacturing means of glass bottles, AIGMF president Rajesh Khosla mentioned “glass has been a trusted mode of packaging since historic instances.”
Elaborating on the composition of glass, Vinit Kapur, secretary, AIGMF, mentioned glass is distinct from plastic since it’s produced from silica sand and recycled glass. It includes a excessive temperature course of which doesn’t contain plastic formation, he added.
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“When plastic particles are noticed in drinks packaged in glass bottles, these particles are attributed to exterior elements like caps and closures, particularly these involving painted metallic surfaces, plastic liners, or sealing compounds,” Kapur mentioned.
AIGMF re-emphasised that tumbler is non-toxic and chemically inert. Other than being utterly recyclable, glass doesn’t include dangerous components, in response to the assertion. Glass doesn’t react chemically with meals or drinks contained in it, FEVE mentioned in its response to the ANSES research.
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