Which Is More Sustainable: Plastic Bottles or Paperboard Cartons for Milk?

The effect plastic bottles and paperboard milk cartons have on the environment has long been a concern for environmental health advocates. Manufacturers are now attempting to make materials that leave a smaller environmental footprint.

How It's Made

• Plastic bottles are made from PET(polyethylene terephthalate). This substance has been tested and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). More and more plastics are being made as bioplastics, which consist of crops like wheat and sugarcane. Paperboard cartons are made from organic or recycled materials. These materials come from trees, which are renewable resources.

Uses

• Plastic's durability and versatility is why it is used worldwide. It is utilized to contain beverages, foods and other products. Paperboard cartons are used to store milk, coffee, juice and utensils, among other products.

Sustainability

• While more and more companies are using bioplastics, the materials these new plastics are made of do not completely break down in landfills. These plastics can also release more toxins into the atmosphere while being broken down in landfills. Paperboard materials are more sustainable than plastics because they are made from trees. The tree byproducts also help create energy to make the paperboard, and have few negative impacts on the environment.