Why Cans Outshine Other Packaging: The Clear Choice for Modern Beverage Producers

Walk into any store today and you’ll see shelves lined with every kind of beverage imaginable—craft beers, cold brew coffees, sparkling waters, kombuchas, cocktails in a can, and energy drinks promising an extra boost. But beyond the flavors, branding, and marketing, there’s one thing every producer has to think about carefully: the packaging.

Packaging is no longer just about holding liquid. It shapes how fresh a drink tastes, how long it lasts on the shelf, how sustainable it is, and even how customers perceive the brand. A great-tasting product can lose its edge if it’s in the wrong container—going flat, tasting “off,” or giving the impression that it’s cheap or environmentally harmful. On the flip side, the right packaging can protect flavor, reduce costs, and help a brand stand out.

Traditionally, producers have leaned on glass bottles or plastic containers, and more recently, cartons have become an option. Each has its advantages, but when examined closely, their shortcomings start to become clear: glass is heavy and fragile, plastic raises environmental concerns, and cartons are difficult to recycle.

In other words, when compared side by side, cans don’t just hold their own against glass, plastic, and cartons—they consistently prove to be the smartest, most future-proof solution for modern beverage producers.

The Drawbacks of Glass Packaging

For decades, glass bottles have been a traditional packaging choice. They convey a sense of heritage and premium quality, but they come with significant downsides:

1. Weight and Fragility
   
   • Glass is heavy, driving up shipping costs and increasing the carbon footprint of transportation.
     
   • Breakage during transit and handling leads to product loss and added expenses.
     
2. Limited Protection Against Light
   
   • Even tinted glass cannot completely block out harmful UV rays. Beverages such as beer are particularly vulnerable to “light-struck” or skunky flavors.
     
3. Energy-Intensive Production
   
   • Manufacturing and recycling glass require high energy consumption. While recyclable, glass is far less efficient compared to aluminum.

In short, glass can create more problems than it solves, especially for businesses aiming for scalability and sustainability.

The Challenges of Plastic Packaging

Plastic is widely used due to its low production cost, but its disadvantages are increasingly impossible to ignore:

1. Environmental Concerns
   
   • Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing global environmental issues. Unlike aluminum, plastic cannot be endlessly recycled without degrading in quality.
     
   • Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of plastic waste, making plastic-packaged products less appealing in eco-conscious markets.
     
2. Product Quality
   
   • Plastics are more permeable to oxygen compared to cans, reducing shelf life and compromising taste.
     
   • Flavors and carbonation in beverages can deteriorate faster in plastic containers.
     
3. Brand Perception
   
   • Many consumers perceive plastic packaging as cheap or low-quality, which can negatively affect brand image.

For premium beverages like craft beer, cold brew coffee, or ready-to-drink cocktails, plastic rarely meets the standard producers want to project.

The Limitations of Carton Packaging

Carton-based packaging, often seen with juices or dairy alternatives, has gained popularity for its convenience. However, cartons are not without flaws:

1. Recycling Complexity
   
   • Cartons are composed of layered materials (paper, plastic, and aluminum) that are difficult to separate and recycle.
     
   • In many regions, cartons are not widely accepted in recycling programs, undermining sustainability claims.
     
2. Poor Barrier Properties
   
   • While cartons are suitable for some beverages, they do not offer the same oxygen and light protection as cans. Products with delicate flavors can suffer over time.
     
3. Shelf Appeal
   
   • Cartons offer limited branding space and often lack the sleek, modern look that today’s consumers expect.

Why Cans and Canning Stand Above the Rest

When compared with glass, plastic, and cartons, cans consistently outperform in every category that matters to both producers and consumers.

1. Superior Product Protection

Cans block 100% of light and create an airtight seal that prevents oxygen intrusion. This ensures beverages stay fresh, flavorful, and true to the producer’s original intent.

2. Sustainability and Recycling

Aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable without losing quality. In fact, a recycled can can be back on store shelves in as little as 60 days. This gives cans one of the smallest environmental footprints in the packaging world.

3. Efficiency for Businesses

Cans are lightweight, stackable, and resistant to breakage. This reduces shipping costs, minimizes storage space, and lowers the risk of product loss. For small and medium producers, equipment like Eazy Canning’s FENIX manual counter-pressure filler and iKAN compact seamer make professional canning both accessible and cost-effective.

4. Consumer Convenience

Cans are portable, quick to chill, and easy to recycle. For customers, they represent practicality and reliability, making them the go-to packaging for on-the-go lifestyles.

5. Branding Potential

With a full 360° design surface, cans allow for bold and creative branding that captures consumer attention. Their modern look aligns with premium positioning and helps products stand out on crowded shelves.

The Eazy Canning Advantage

While the superiority of cans is clear, having the right equipment is critical for producers to fully realize these benefits. Eazy Canning provides solutions tailored to small and medium-sized businesses, ensuring professional-grade results without overwhelming complexity or cost.

• FENIX offers a manual counter-pressure filling system that minimizes waste and maintains carbonation levels with precision.
  
• iKAN delivers professional seaming capabilities in a compact, durable design, making it ideal for smaller-scale operations.

Together, these solutions empower producers to elevate their packaging, maintain product integrity, and compete confidently in today’s market.

Final Thoughts

Glass is fragile, plastic is polluting, and cartons are complicated. Cans, on the other hand, combine sustainability, efficiency, product protection, and consumer appeal into one unbeatable package.

For businesses looking to grow, reduce waste, and deliver the best possible product, cans and canning equipment are not just the best option—they are the future.

Eazy Canning stands ready to support that future by providing reliable, easy-to-use canning solutions that help businesses succeed, one can at a time.