We should use glass bottles, as we did in the past, and use other biodegradable materials for everything else.
In Europe, we banned single use plastic straws, cotton swabs, cutleries, bags, etc., and industrials found alternatives that are inexpensive and environmental friendly.
I've read accounts from people who were around when glass was widely used, particularly for beverages, who report that broken glass was everywhere, much worse than today.
Just to add to downsides besides energy spent for transportation and other processing.
A cousin cut his wrist falling with a glass half-gallon milk bottle in hand. But in general I don't remember that much in the way of broken glass from my childhood, though pretty much everything bigger than a school-lunch milk carton was glass.
we dont use glass bottles anymore because of the increased shipping weight and how fragile glass is. plastic definitely needs to be replaced but going back to glass for most things that need to be shipped just isnt the way we need to go
In Europe, we banned single use plastic straws, cotton swabs, cutleries, bags, etc., and industrials found alternatives that are inexpensive and environmental friendly.