​So many reasons to use eco-friendly glass jars

At Wares of Knutsford, we have always been passionate about creating clean, green and eco-friendly kitchens that minimise the consumption of single-use plastics. We stock products made from glass, ceramic and wicker so that our customers can create eco-friendly homes that look beautiful and perform perfectly - without landfill.

But what are the benefits of using eco-friendly glass jars, rather than plastic alternatives?

Glass is easier to recycle

Although a lot of plastic can now be recycled, it's a more inefficient process than with glass. Firstly, a staggering percentage of plastic never actually gets recycled in the first place. As consumers, we are now well versed in the ease of recycling glass in all its forms, and neighbourhood bin collections make this process easy by providing recycling bins that take all glass bottles, jars and so forth.

But with plastic, the message around recycling ability is less clear-cut. Many plastic disposable items still cannot be recycled and customers are unclear as to whether they can put certain products in the bin. As a result, many plastics end up in the non-recycling bin and ultimately get sent to landfill. Until messaging and consistency around plastic usage improves, this will continue to mean that plastic isn't recycled. Similarly, until companies are forced to only use recycled and recyclable plastics, where appropriate, many will still continue to use damaging single-use products.

Glass doesn't emit toxins when it is recycled

Glass isn't just easy to recycle. It doesn't emit any damaging environmental chemicals when it is recycled (because it is made with sand and natural materials.) This contrasts with plastic recycling which can actually emit chemicals into the environment. The recycling process is just as important to consider when making green purchase decisions as the choice of material itself.

Glass lasts longer

Glass can last for decades if it is kept carefully. It certainly out-performs plastic, which tends to degrade after a few washes. If you consider the appearance of plastic beakers after a summer's worth of use and washing, compared to your glassware, this is immediately clear! Glass can also last indefinitely unless it is broken. Broken glassware can be recycled indefinitely and it will always produce the same quality glassware. Plastic, on the other hand, even the most recyclable PET plastic category, can only be recycled up to 30 times before it degrades to the point of being useless.

Glass can be recycled into a like-for-like product

Accidentally break a glass bottle or jar and it can be recycled into a new one. This contrasts with plastic which can only be recycled downwards - if it can be recycled at all. Plastic loses its structural integrity as it ages, meaning that a plastic bottle cannot be recycled into another plastic bottle. Instead, it can only be recycled into lower-grade items such as furniture or clothing padding and filling or plastic wood. It's also worth noting that when plastic is recycled into new bottles or jars, it has had new ingredients added to it, which means that it isn't true recycling at all.

Glass is safe and protects flavours

Glass is a good-safe storage product, unlike many plastics which must be marked as being BPA-free to be free from worrying chemicals. For many consumers, plastic is rarely a safe and healthy choice where food is concerned, because of concerns that chemicals can leach from the plastic into foods. There are none of these concerns with a glass jar or bottle, which also protects the flavour of the food and drink you store in it. Again, if you have ever stored food or drink in plastic over time, you will probably notice a distinctive and unwanted taste - which you don't experience when you choose glass.

Tackling demand challenges

There are currently some real global challenges when it comes to the production of glass materials such as jars, driven especially by the war in Ukraine. This has meant that a lot of retailers have experienced shortages in their stock. Wares of Knutsford is fortunately placed to have a wide panel of glass jar suppliers from partners across Europe. Our purchasing team also works constantly to source new suppliers who can meet our customers' needs.

The glassware you need at Wares of Knutsford

Whenever you want to stock your kitchen with glass jars or bottles, you'll find everything you need at Wares of Knutsford. We stock glassware in all shapes and sizes and from a variety of trusted brands and manufacturers, including Mason and Weck jars. You'll find glass jars for bottling, jam-making, drink making, food preparation and storage and all other purposes.

Please browse our website to see our full range of glass jar categories, including Kilner jars, clip top glass jars, Mason glass jars, pharmaceutical jars, miniature glass bottles and more. You'll love our range, our prices, our highly competitive delivery rates and our superb customer service. Discover the Wares difference today and enjoy the many benefits of beautiful, safe and environmentally-friendly glassware for your home.