Should you buy beer in bottles or cans?

PROS: Bottles

PROS: Cans

• Unbreakable
• Recycled often; 48 percent of cans make it back to the plant for smelting
• Light and compact; transport is energy efficient

CONS: Bottles

• Only 25 percent of glass is recycled
• Bottles are heavier, so shipping uses more energy
• Light can penetrate glass and oxygen can leak through cap, making beer taste “Skunky”

CONS: Cans

• Aluminum production and mining cause deforestation, soil erosion, and contamination of waterways
• Can produce a metallic flavor

The verdict: If your town recycles glass, opt for bottles, because glass production is kinder to the environment. Otherwise, go for cans—and lobby for a bottle bill in your state (bottlebill.org). More ways to cut waste? Drink a local microbrew (a shorter shipping distance means fewer emissions), order beer on tap at restaurants, and use a keg at parties.