Which type of bottles should I use?
Choosing either plastic or glass juice bottles for your new juice business is an important decision that might have more factors than you have considered. I will explore some of the pros and cons of each:
Plastic Juice Bottles
Pros:
- Cheap – Landed cost usually less than $0.60 per bottle for 16 oz / 500 ml (when purchased in quantity).
- Light – Cheaper shipping, easier to move and store.
- Durable – Less broken bottles.
- Ordering plastic bottles is easy using the Bottles app on the Goodnature Marketplace.
Cons:
- Less premium look and feel.
- Pollution – Worse for the environment.
- Toxicity – Most plastic bottles are BPA free, however some of the hard plastic reusable bottles (think baby bottles) contain BPA, which may be harmful to humans [FDA].
Glass Juice Bottles
Pros:
- Premium look and feel. Important for image and marketing for premium juice brands.
- Reusable – Better for the environment.
- Return program – Some juice companies offer a credit if a customer brings back an empty bottle. This brings customers back to the store where they are likely to buy something.
- Non Toxic – Glass does not contain potentially harmful chemicals.
Cons:
- More Expensive – Depending on quantity purchased, glass beverage bottles can easily be over $3.00/ea for the standard 16 oz / 500 ml size. When ordering large quantities (thousands) can usually get the landed cost including shipping down to about $1.50 in the US. Looking for affordable glass? Check out glass juice bottles a wholesale prices here.
- Labor Costs – If running a return program, de-labeling, washing, and sanitizing bottles can add a lot of labor costs, and extra space and equipment is needed for the bottle washing.
- Breakage – Glass bottles can break during shipping and storage, causing some waste.
Once you decide on plastic or glass, you will need to find a supplier. I recommend the Goodnature Marketplace for juice bar supplies including glasses.
You can shop for plastic bottles here and glass bottles here.
About The Author
Charlie Wettlaufer
President and CMO - Goodnature
Host - Cold Pressed Truth and Goodnature Radio
Creator - JuiceCon
I’ve been around juicing all my life. My Dad built his first hydraulic juice press in 1976 and founded the company Goodnature Products, Inc. I have incredible memories of having “cider parties” when we would invite all the people in our rural neighborhood over to make apple juice. To this day, when I taste apple juice made on a Goodnature press, a rush of nostalgia runs through my body.
I pride myself on guiding our clients into the world of cold-pressed juice and showing them how much fun this industry can be. I love talking business, technology, and marketing. My missions is to carry on my Dad's goal - one day make Goodnature a house-hold name.
Comments
Is it required to clean, wash, and sanitize brand new plastic bottles that have never been used before filling them with juice?
Hi RJ, It's really up to you. Ari, our chef and juice business consultant recommends that you could reach out to the bottle company and ask them to provide a clean product guarantee. But he would recommend washing them regardless because they don't have control over the distribution portion of the process.
Is it possible to start a successful juicing business from home, before thinking of a physical building?
Yes, absolutely that is how many people get started! Check out our article on starting a juice business from home here: https://www.goodnature.com/blog/how-to-start-a-home-juice-business/ Let us know if you have any questions!
Hi Charlie, I will be using glads bottles, is there any cost effective way of sterilizing the bottles before use? I’m operating from home and would like to know how do I keep the juice from being contaminated... thanks I’m advance
Hello, Yes for glass bottles I would recommend either using a dishwasher that can reach high temp to sterilize, most units have a sterilized setting actually, The heat will replace standard sanatizer. Or you can use your standard washing process of wash (With detergent) rinse and sanitize (With an approved sanitizer) Hope that helps.
Hi, I am looking for French square 12 ounces glass bottles and cannot find. Where can I find these at?
Hi Nygina, You can find these at Berlin Packaging. Check out the discussion on the Goodnature community forums for more places to source glass bottles: https://community.goodnature.com/t/glass-bottle-supplier/347
Hi Charles, I found your website very informative and helpful. I am about to set up a cold pressed juicing in Ireland and making decisions on glass/plastic bottles and labels etc. Great to read this. Thank you. Deirdre
Do you have any recommendations on the best way to clean glass bottles? All of the brushes I've found are too soft or don't fit inside.
Hi Von, We like to use the brush that we send with our smaller juice presses and supply on our shop here, but if you have a small opening it may not fit. I will follow up with an email to see if we can figure out if it will work or not for you 😄
Hi Charles Thanks for all your posts, very helpful. Just wanted to ask, do you have any idea what causes panelling/dipping in plastic bottle and how it can be prevented. Thank you Michelle
Seems like that could happen if you are filling the bottles with warm liquid. When it cools, it would contract which causes the bottles to dip.
Hi Charlie, Thanks for the information! What about paper box, such as juice boxes or tetra pak? Are they more or less expensive? Any thoughts on pros and cons? Thank you so much!
To be honest I haven't looked into it! Can you let us all know what you find out please??
Hello Charlie, do you know a company in the US or Mexico that provides biodegradable juice bottles? Thank you!
Sorry I do not
Hi Charlie, Great read thank you I have been in touch with Goodnature trying to decide what machine would best meet our business needs We are in Ontario and I am really struggling to find good distributors for glass bottles and caps to pick from a very large number of colours. Do you have any recommendations? Thank you Talk soon Vanessa Warren
I don't have any suggestions for glass bottles. They are expensive and there are not a lot of options unfortunately. If you're going to be buying a lot of them you could consider getting your own custom bottle made, but that is a very large up front cost and usually have to get them from China and commit to a container full of bottles (about 80,000 bottles).
Hi Charlie - I'm looking for a bottle supplier in CA....currently using one on the East coast and the shipping is killing me. Any suggestions? Thank you!
I depends on how many your ordering (ordering on our website is free shipping in the US for case quantities). I have also heard good things about Berlin Packaging based in Chicago: https://www.linkedin.com/company/berlin-packaging/
Pls I want to start a mixed fruit juice company, I need your candid advice concerning a home made juice I want to start, I should I go about it. I have $21,000 with me. Will it be enough? At least starting with 5,000 plastic bottles.
Anu, that is enough to start a home business. The X-1 Mini is $12,800, which leaves you plenty of funds left over for bottles, produce, and accessories. Where are you located?
Do you have any recommendations for glass bottle suppliers in California?
Hi, could anyone advise on most effecient way to clean new pet bottles before filling with juice ? Thank you
I would recommend using your standard wash rinse sanitize by soaking the bottles in a 3 compartment sink, Just be careful not to go too warm with the water, it could warp the bottles.
What providers are juicers using to put on their bottles? I am looking for a supplier for our juicers when we get up and running. And who is the most widely used bottle supplier that juice bars are using? We purchased your CT7 and hope to begin operations by early 2018. 😄
Hello Charlie, Do you know any suppliers of glass bottles in the UAE, specifically in Dubai? Regards
Sorry I do not know any in that area
hello dear charlie , your site looks sincere and comprehensive . im an immigrant physician in canada mean to set up a juice and deli bar preferablly with a business partner , can you please give me some idea ? thanks a lot,dr.shan
good day Charlie, I'm manufacturing a juice that uses real fruit, which would keep the juice fresher for longer, glass or plastic? and if the juice has the potential to ferment, would one of those (glass or plastic) keep that from happening?
Busi, I don't think that the type of bottle has an effect on shelf life. You can read an article I wrote about shelf life here for more info.
Hello Charlie. I.ve been juicing for my family for a few years but now I want go go commercial. Since I.m starting small, how do I seal bottles if I am to use plastic? Thank you.
Actually you can just put the caps on by hand and they lock in place. No tools needed!
Hi, do tou know if there are any vending machine for cold press juice? Thanks
Dan, some people have tried this but I haven't seen anything lately.
If I'm using plastic bottles and caps. Do I need to use a manual sealer to remove the air?
Allen, you can usually just put the caps on by hand. There are bottle fillers that can remove the air but it's not necessary.
Hi there, We are looking at using glass bottles for our business. Any suggestions on DIY sanitizing or the best way to go about getting it done?
Jason, you will just need to ask your local health department which sanitizers are approved. Basically, you will need to wash, rinse, and sanitize the bottles according to health regulations.
Hi there! We use glass bottles and love them! Curious if you have a contact for a company that provides the sanitation set-up? Are there companies that sanitize the bottles by hand in a basic 3-compartment sink?
Most small juice companies wash and sanitize the bottles by hand. This takes a lot of labor, but the investment of the automated equipment is only worth it when doing large quantities of bottles. The sanitizing step itself is not as time consuming as removing the labels and washing the bottles. I'm not too familiar with the equipment manufacturers but I have heard of a german company named Krones that makes large scale equipment. www.krones.com
I use glass and need to them cheaper. Which are $1 per bottle? Thank u
You can try stanpac in canada
Hi, I am currently located in Florida and I was wondering if you could give me a good bottle company? I have no idea where to buy our bottles.
Yes, Captiva in Miami.
Great website! I would like to start a juicing business and feel sourcing bottles and packaging them correctly will be my biggest obstacle. I feel confident in my ability to brand and market my product, but lack confidence my packaging abilities. For example once I receive the bottles how do I seal them correctly. Thanks in advance!
The caps are put on by hand fairly easily. No worries there!
Hello, I'm starting a cold pressed juice in the Middle East. Would it be better to buy from a bottle supplier from China or the US? I worry the quality from China might not be as good. Also, can you recommend the best suppliers for plastic bottles?
Plastic bottle manufacturers normally get “preforms†shipped from china, then use equipment to mold the preforms into bottles in their local region. For that reason, it is much more cost effective to get plastic bottles manufactured / molded in your region. Are you sure there aren’t any in the Middle East?
What is the most popular plastic bottling company?
Try http://www.captivacontainers.com/. Ask for Fred.
Hi, I am about to start a small juicing business. Can you suggest a website in the US where I can purchase bottles? Also, which do you think is better in terms of costs, as I can allow ppl to come back and reuse their same bottles. Thanks
This is the most popular company for glass juice bottles: http://www.stanpacnet.com/dairy-product-packaging/glass-milk-bottles/ In regards to reusing the bottles, remember you will need to wash and sanitize them prior to reusing, so the labor costs can add up significantly (just be prepared).
Hi! Do you use plastic or glass bottles Charlie?
I prefer glass!
Hi Charlie, We're starting a business in the UK. Do you have any recommendation for sourcing bottles and labels here? many blessings
I'm sorry but I'm not aware of bottle or label sources in the UK. Please let me know if you come up with anything! I would try a google search for "PET beverage bottles." Most print shops can print the right kind of labels. You will need to know what type of bottles you are using before sourcing the labels, since the size of the label and type of glue will depend on that.
Hello could you please share with me some providers for square 16oz PET bottles? Thank you Felipe
Felipe, which country are you located in?
i was wondering if there is any difference in the taste of the juice if it was in a plastic bottle or glass bottle. i am starting a cold press juice business and the cost of the glass bottles are more expensive so is there a difference at all??
In my experience there's not much of an actual taste difference, but there the perception of the juice being higher quality when it's from glass. So... it feels like a higher premium product if that makes any sense.
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