Call to replace plastic bottles with glass

Two giant Indian investments in Sri Lanka – Primal Glass and IOC have come together to educate people on the dangers of using water in plastic bottles. This educational project was carried out recently by the ‘Believers in Glass’ Movement in collaboration with Piramal Glass Ceylon PLC and IOC.

As part of this initiative, the Believers in Glass initiative distributed glass bottles free for water storage in vehicles at IOC petrol stations. The campaign called ‘Don’t drive and drink toxic water’ educated people on the dangers of carrying water in plastic bottles, or storing water in plastic bottles for long, as the plastic leaches chemicals into the water thus poisoning it.

Managing Director of Piramal Glass Ceylon PLC, Sanjay Tiwari quoting global research said, “Mineral water, if stored in plastic bottles, has 27% higher bromates than WHO standards (four mg in one litre is the maximum limit) and also more chlorites and chlorates.” “Another research revealed the presence of harmful elements such as antimony, lead and cadmium in liquids stored in plastic.

When exposed to over 40 degrees Celsius of heat, plastic bottles can leach chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) into your water, thus making it toxic, whereas glass provides a protective shield against such chemicals,” he said.

“These toxic chemicals may cause a negative effect on your immune system, hormonal imbalance, baldness, asthma in children, diabetes, hypertension, pancreatic malfunction, liver and kidney problems and even cancer,” Tiwari said.

New research shows that BPA negatively affects the chances of conceiving and results in a higher risk of miscarriages.

Antimony leads to heart muscle damage, Cadmium causes respiratory tract infections and DEHP has already been banned in many countries.

Glass is made from natural raw materials which are advantageous to our health since the glass has an outstanding barrier that fights and protects against outside influences. Glass is also nonporous and impermeable.

Glass has the ability to withstand extreme heat and cold, this enables glass to prevent any reaction with the contents it holds, while maintaining its freshness and durability. It also helps to maintain the aroma, flavour and freshness of food and does not negatively affect its contents in any way. It is perfect for the long term preservation of food in its original state. Besides personal health, there are also environmental reasons to use glass as against other forms of packaging. Worldwide only one out of five plastic bottles is recycled, while the rest are either burnt or used as landfill. Each of these plastic bottles takes about 700 years to decompose naturally.

Plastic bottles end up threatening our wildlife and harming the environment, thus making our world a less beautiful place. Glass on the other hand is 100% recyclable which in turn makes it environment-friendly.

A used glass bottle can always be recycled into a new one, because glass is 100% recyclable. Every ton of glass that is recycled saves more than a ton of the raw materials needed to create new glass. Glass is very respectful of our environment, reducing landfills and saving energy. Piramal Glass has set up glass collection centres at all major Divisional Secretariats which enables households and corporates to dispose of waste glass.

To support the above initiative Piramal Glass Ceylon took the lead to form an association for waste recycling - ‘Sri Lanka Recyclers’ association’.

In continuation of their commitment to society and the environment, Piramal Glass Ceylon has supported the ‘Believers in Glass’ movement and have started their journey of transformation, by not only educating but giving alternate solutions. This launch is just the beginning.