November 19, 2024, 4:04 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
In the supermarket, you can find glass bottles in a wide variety of colors: from clear to green to brown and blue. The different glass colors actually serve a purpose.
Thanks to their different shapes and colors, glass bottles can also make a great decoration. However, bottles do not have different colors to fit better visually into the living room. The colors fulfill different functions.
These are the functions of the different bottle colors
Water bottles are usually transparent, whereas beer and wine are sold in dark bottle colors such as green or brown. The reason for this is as follows: drinks such as beer and wine or olive oil should be stored in the dark as they are sensitive to UV rays. Sunlight can lead to a chemical reaction that can negatively affect the taste and quality of the products. Dark glass bottles protect food and drink better from UV rays than light-colored glass. Brown and green bottles, therefore, allow products to keep longer and retain their unique taste.
Furthermore, the different colors of the bottles also provide recognition value. As consumers, we are used to buying wine and beer in dark bottles and water, vodka, and soft drinks, usually in light-colored glass bottles. At the same time, transparent glass bottles are also used specifically to market products better. A drink in a bright pink color stands out better in a clear bottle. Food can also be better presented to the customer thanks to the light-colored glass.
myHOMEBOOK editor reveals Not just red and green! These are the Christmas colors in 2024
Ask the expert 9 tips for less plastic waste
Furnishings, color, … How to make a first-floor apartment brighter
Bottle colors at a glance
In the drinks section of any well-stocked supermarket, you will usually find glass bottles in green, brown, and transparent. But why is it so rare to see red, yellow, or purple bottles? Although these colors certainly exist, green, brown, white, and blue are the standard, and for a good reason. The standardized colors simplify the recycling process.
A clear separation of colors is crucial in recycling. Only in this way is it possible to reuse the used glass without losing quality. More unusual colors require a special process in order to be recycled or end up in mixed glass. However, mixed glass cannot be reprocessed into bottles at will. Standardized colors help to separate the used glass correctly and thus make the recycling process more efficient.
Clear glass (white)
- Clear glass bottles are used to present food and drinks. White glass offers no protection against UV rays and is therefore not suitable for sensitive products.
- Clear glass is generally used for water, schnapps, soft drinks, and canned food.
Green glass
- Green glass offers medium protection against UV light. Although brown glass offers better protection, it is still used for wine for traditional reasons.
- In addition to wine, green glass is mostly used for sparkling wine and beer.
Amber glass
- Brown glass provides the best UV protection – just like sunglasses. It can block up to 90 percent of light, which is why it is suitable for sensitive products.
- Beer, olive oil, apple juice, and medicines are usually found in dark glass bottles.
Blue glass and other colors
- Both blue and red or purple glass fulfill a purely aesthetic function. They serve the recognition value of a product and generally do not protect against UV light.
- Glass in other colors is used for spirits, collector’s editions, or designer products.