Bottle is a container made of glass, plastic or another material that can be used to hold liquids. It is also known as a flask, kettle or jug. It can be used to serve drinks, water and juices to people in homes and businesses. Bottles are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors. Bottles can also be embossed with logos, text and designs.
The word “bottle” was once theater slang for courage or nerve and is still used as a synonym for a misfortune on stage, but it has also become the name for an object that holds alcohol or some other drink. Bottles can be a symbol of power, success and elegance. They can also represent the loss of something important.
Glass bottles have been used to hold liquids since ancient times. Modern glassmakers use a combination of ingredients to make it, such as silica sand, lime and magnesia. A new method for making glass uses a high temperature melt. This allows for the creation of a more durable, stronger and thinner product than traditional methods.
Plastic bottles have been used since the 1940s and are much more commonplace than glass containers. They are lighter, cheaper to produce and easier to transport. They can be made from a variety of materials, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and others. The most popular type of plastic for bottles is PET. It is produced by reacting petroleum hydrocarbons with ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. This creates a thermoplastic polymer that is opaque or transparent, depending on the material makeup.
Reducing the usage of plastics and boosting recycling can help reduce environmental concerns, cut dependence on non-renewable natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The most effective solutions, though, involve technology that transforms discarded plastic into useful products instead of sending it to landfills and the ocean.
It is possible to recycle plastic bottles, but it can take several steps. First, the containers must be collected. Then they must be separated into different categories, based on the type of plastic used. Finally, the bottles must be cleaned from any food, drink or chemical residue.
A bottle can be labeled with stickers, shrink wrap or in-mould labels. In-mould labelling involves building the label into the bottle during molding. This is becoming more and more popular in the beverage industry, as it can eliminate the need for adhesives.
The finish is the constricted neck portion of a bottle that is above the shoulder but below the base. It is not to be confused with a collar which is part of the body of the bottle and lies between the neck and base. The upper neck of a free-blown bottle can be manipulated during finishing to create a push-up or kick-up which reduces interior volume and may help retain contents, strengthen the bottle and/or collect sediment. See the Bottle Body & Mold Seams page for further information on bottle finishes.