Yes, research (1) shows that reusable glass packaging emits up to 85% less CO2 than single-use recycled glass packaging. Reusable glass packaging also emits up to 70% less CO2 than a plastic PET bottle.

Exactly how much CO2 is saved depends on the material, the transport distance, weight of the packaging and how often it can be reused. We calculate the precise CO2 impact for each customer. If desired, we can make a precise calculation for each packaging.

(1) Reloop and Zero Waste Europe, 2020

Washing time, water pressure, temperature and chemicals are all important for a good cleaning result. The advantage of glass is that the first three factors can be used optimally, since glass is strong and can tolerate high temperatures. This allows us to keep the use of chemicals to a minimum.
To achieve a 100% hygienic result and make the glass last as long as possible, a little bit of chemistry is needed. The main agent used is sodium hydroxide, which dissolved in water is called caustic soda. This product is not dangerous in low concentrations and is also commonly used in for example, shampoo.

All our packaging is cleaned at 80 degrees with caustic soda, a solution of sodium hydroxide in water. The washing machine removes labels, organic material and fats and kills bacteria. Then the dirt is removed and the packaging is rinsed twice more. For inspection, we use ATP testing to ensure that our packaging is free of micro-organisms.

Thanks to this cleaning method, PAKT ensures clean packaging that can be reused for consumption.

We can clean all glass packaging with the specifications stated in this document. If your packaging does not fully match these specifications, please contact us and we will look for a solution.

Yes, you should. Just like with new bottles or jars, rinsing right before refilling is necessary.

Unfortunately, reuse of caps and lids is not (yet) possible for professional food production. The lids and caps are no longer airtight after washing and can rust and absorb odors. We do try to minimize waste as much as possible by recycling the steel lids.  For plastic lids we are conducting research into whether we can use them to make new plastic lids.