Glass vs PET: What’s the Best Choice for a Sustainable Refill Routine?
When it comes to making sustainable swaps in your home, one question keeps popping up:
“Should I choose a glass or plastic bottle for refills?”
At Miniml, we offer both. Here we will discuss the benefits and flaws of both options. Read on to choose yours!
Why Plastic Can Be the Better Option
Not all plastics are created equal. Our PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are made with durability, safety, and circularity in mind.
Here’s why they make sense for most households:
-
Lightweight & Shatterproof: Unlike glass, PET bottles are less likely to break, making them a safer option for bathrooms, kitchens, or homes with children and pets.
-
Low Carbon Footprint: PET takes less energy to manufacture and transport than glass, making it the more carbon-efficient choice, especially important for nationwide delivery and logistics.
-
Closed-Loop System: Our refill bottles are collected, cleaned, and reused as part of our closed-loop circular system, ensuring they don’t end up in landfill.
-
BPA-Free & Safe: Our PET bottles are food-grade, free from BPA and other harmful chemicals, and won’t leach microplastics when used as intended.
-
Long-Lasting & Reusable: With proper care (rinsing between refills, storing away from direct sunlight), our PET bottles can be reused for years before needing to be recycled.
In fact, reusing your PET bottle 10 times can reduce its carbon footprint by up to 90% compared to a single-use alternative.
But What About Microplastics?
This is a valid concern, and one we take seriously. Our bottles are designed for long-term use and tested to meet stringent safety standards.
They do not shed microplastics under normal household use. If your bottle becomes damaged or scratched over time, simply recycle it and replace - that’s when it’s time for a fresh one.
💎 When Glass is the Right Choice
We get it, glass looks great. It’s weighty, minimal, and ideal if you're aiming for a plastic-free lifestyle. That’s why we offer glass refill bottles for customers who want that countertop aesthetic or for products like hand soap that aren’t handled as frequently.
However, glass also comes with:
-
A higher production footprint
-
Greater breakage risk
-
More carbon emissions during transport due to its weight
That’s why we recommend glass for lower turnover products or customers who can refill in-store and PET for heavy-use, everyday cleaning and laundry items.
🧼 The Bottom Line?
Whether you’re team PET or team glass, what matters most is refilling.
The more times you reuse a bottle, the better its environmental performance becomes.
At Miniml, we’ve designed both options to work within our circular system - whether you return your empty refill packaging to us or refill your bottle locally using our stockist finder.
Whatever you choose, thanks for joining us on the journey to reduce waste, ditch single-use plastic, and create a cleaner world, one refill at a time.