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I once spoke with an executive at a large packaging firm who had sold both glass and plastic containers in his career and was at the time pitching plastic. When I asked about the interplay between the rival materials, particularly within packaging, he said that after a brand owner had switched to plastic, he'd hate to be the glass sales guy trying to lure the company back.

Tony Deligio

June 3, 2011

2 Min Read
Et tu Rubbermaid?

I once spoke with an executive at a large packaging firm who had sold both glass and plastic containers in his career and was at the time pitching plastic. When I asked about the interplay between the rival materials, particularly within packaging, he said that after a brand owner had switched to plastic, he'd hate to be the glass sales guy trying to lure the company back. I'm not sure that would be the case today, given the backlash over plastic and the broader drumbeat against single-use packaging.CL94228.jpeg

Newell Rubbermaid

For evidence, look no further than the iconic brand Rubbermaid, which launched the Rubbermaid Glass with Easy Find Lids food-storage containers last month. In a release, the company with a synthetic material in its name, noted the resurgence of glass, usually at the expense of plastics:

The glass food storage category is growing again as consumers look to simplify food preparation and storage and also consider the lifetime value of products, but until now consumers had to trade off on some important functional benefits when using traditional glass products.

The company said the glass containers with plastics lids, including an elastomer-based "Flex & Seal" gasket,  give consumers the ability to "cook, serve, store and reheat meals all in one container," which, I'm guessing is how they promoted the plastic predecessor prior to rising public concerns about chemicals leaching from polymers when the plastics are heated, say in a dishwasher or microwave.

The company said Rubbermaid Glass containers can be used in the oven up to 425°F (admittedly not something you'd try with a polyolefin), and also function in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. The company said the glass also offers "superior stain and odor resistance" over plastic, which I can see. Many a marinara has permanently marred my reusable plastic containers.

Rubbermaid Glass is the fifth in the company's Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids family of food storage containers, all of which are "BPA free" Newell Rubbermaid notes. The glass containers are available in seven sizes, ranging from 1 to 11.5 cups with suggested retail prices from $5.99 to $12.99 for individual containers, and $23.00 for an eight-piece set. Seems like plastic could be had for cheaper, not to mention lighter in transport, but Newell Rubbermaid didn't talk about material costs or product weight and the end effect on overall carbon footprint.

Maybe it's an isolated case, but if Rubbermaid opts out of plastics for glass, while dancing around migration concerns, what other food-storage containers could be next? I guess we still have Tupperware.

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