Beer Can vs Bottle CO2 Emissions Comparison
Compare aluminum cans and returnable bottles across any quantity to quickly estimate the difference in lifecycle CO2 emissions.
Input
units
g
Lifecycle estimate including production, shipping and recycling (default 120g)
g
Estimate assuming washing and repeated reuse (default 80g)
Result
CO2 saved by choosing bottles (100 units)
4.00kg-CO2
(4,000 g-CO2)
Can total
12.00 kg
Bottle total
8.00 kg
CO2 saved
4.00 kg
| Container | Per unit | Total (g) | Total (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum can | 120 g | 12,000 | 12.00 |
| Returnable bottle | 80 g | 8,000 | 8.00 |
How it works
- This calculator multiplies the CO2 per unit (g) by the quantity for both aluminum cans and returnable bottles, then shows the difference as the amount of CO2 saved.
- The per-unit CO2 is a whole-lifecycle estimate covering production, shipping and recycling (or reuse for bottles). Defaults are about 120 g-CO2 per can and 80 g-CO2 per returnable bottle, but you can change them freely in the input fields.
- Returnable bottles assume washing and repeated reuse, so the more times a bottle is reused the lower its per-unit emissions become. Note that one-way (single-use) bottles will have higher values.
- The main figure (CO2 saved) is shown prominently in kg-CO2, with the can total, bottle total, and savings laid out as stats and a table (1 kg = 1,000 g).
- Actual values vary widely depending on container size, material, transport distance, electricity emission factors, recycling rates and more. The results here are only a rough estimate, not exact figures.
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Beer Can vs Bottle CO2 Emissions Comparison