We are often asked why we package our olive oil in PET plastic. These questions come from different perspectives, including oil preservation, health, the environment, and the image that plastic packaging gives our olive oil.
Plastic packaging from the point of view of preservation
There are two main reasons why some people believe olive oil should not be packaged in plastic.
- It is said that plastic containers are porous and allow air to pass through, causing the oil to oxidize. By contrast, glass and metal containers are considered impermeable to air.
Regarding this point, we have not found any data showing the actual degree of this porosity. How significant is it over 1, 2, 5, or even 10 years in an unopened container? As we understand it, the porosity must be extremely low, since PET plastic is used to package water, whose molecule (H2O) is much smaller than an oxygen molecule (O2) (a little more than half its size). We do not quite understand how PET can be impermeable to water but not to oxygen. If anyone reading this can provide a satisfactory explanation, we would be pleased to hear it.
On the other hand, once the cap or seal of a PET, glass, or metal container has been opened, its porosity is no longer relevant, because air enters the container every time it is used, regardless of how impermeable the material itself may be.
- If the plastic is transparent, sunlight deteriorates the oil.
In this case, we absolutely agree. This has a significant impact when the oil is sold in shops and supermarkets. When displayed in shop windows or on shelves under sunlight or artificial lighting, the effect is considerable.
Packaging to order and direct online sales reduce this problem because the customer receives the product in an opaque cardboard box without it having been exposed to light. It can then be stored in a place away from direct light.
Why do you use transparent plastic?
Since we sell our oil online, light exposure is not a problem, so we prefer to use transparent plastic. We like to be able to see the colour of the oil and check its appearance, and we also like our customers to be able to appreciate the differences in colour between our various olive oil varieties, as well as between our filtered and unfiltered oils.
Plastic containers from a health point of view
Plastic packaging has always been under suspicion because it may contain substances that are harmful to health and could migrate into food and be ingested.
As scientific studies identify these substances and the authorities subsequently restrict their use, we at Las Valdesas require our suppliers to eliminate them from their containers and to provide the corresponding certification.
For example, our plastic containers are free from Bisphenol A.
Plastic packaging from an environmental point of view
The main drawback we see with plastic containers is that they are not biodegradable. This remains an unsolved problem.
On the other hand, PET plastic is already recycled in most European countries, although the use of recycled PET is restricted by the legislation of each country. In some countries, recycled PET is already permitted for food packaging. It is not yet permitted in Spain. As soon as legislation allows it, and provided we are satisfied that suppliers comply with all health requirements, we will investigate the possibility of using it.
We are also keeping an eye on the new generation of plastic containers made from vegetable waste, such as potatoes. However, to date we have only found them being used for solid food containers in restaurants, and we understand that their shelf life is shorter than what is required for olive oil packaging.
As soon as we find a container with these characteristics that guarantees the proper storage of olive oil, we will use it.
Plastic containers from the point of view of marketing
Here are some of the questions and comments we have received from customers, professionals and friends:
- If your oil is so good, why do you package it in plastic?
- A high-quality oil deserves a container that reflects its excellence.
- Is the oil in the 5-litre containers the same as the oil in the half-litre bottles? Yes.
Any marketing expert would probably tell us that we are doing it wrong. That reminds me of something my father used to say:
"We are not glassmakers; we simply want to sell a fantastic olive oil at a reasonable price so that it can be used in every kitchen."
This principle is difficult to achieve with glass packaging.
The advantages of plastic over other packaging materials are:
- It is inexpensive. (We do not want to make our oils unnecessarily more expensive.)
- It is lightweight. (This is important for keeping shipping costs as low as possible.)
- It is resistant to breakage. (At least much more so than glass, which helps reduce breakages during transport.)