In recent years, many people associate olive oil with a healthy diet. It contains a range of components that are beneficial to the body, including polyphenols, antioxidants, and healthy fats. In addition to adding flavor, these ingredients can reduce cholesterol and improve heart health. Unfortunately, these components are sensitive to various external factors which may degrade the quality of the olive oil over time.
Proper packaging is essential to preserve the freshness, taste and nutritional value of olive oil. Exposure to air, light, temperature or moisture may cause oxidation, leading to changes in quality. This is why olive oil, especially virgin olive oil, has to be packaged properly to block out oxygen and light.
How Should Olive Oil Be Packaged
Generally, olive oil can be packaged in tins, glass bottles, bag-in-box systems and plastic bottles.
Glass bottles:
Clear glass exposes oil to damaging light, which can lead to photo-oxidation and accelerate rancidity. That’s why olive oil comes in dark bottles, including amber and green options. Both green and amber bottles are more effective at preventing oil degradation than clear glass, but amber glass offers slightly superior UV protection.
Plastic bottles:
Plastic bottles for olive oil are primarily made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE), a lightweight, durable, and food-safe plastic. These bottles are usually darkened to protect the oil from UV light. Plastic bottles are used for olive oil due to their affordability and lightweight nature.
Tin cans:
Tins for olive oil are made from steel or aluminum coated with a thin layer of tin. Interior surfaces are lined with inert, food-safe coating in order to prevent interaction between the metal and the oil. Tin cans are more frequently found in commercial settings like food factories, hotels, and restaurants.
Small tins for olive oil are also available, with sizes ranging from 100ml to 1 liter. Nowadays, the outside of tins are often decorated to look nice on your countertop. For extra virgin olive oil, tins offer a durable and reliable light-blocking storage solution.
Bag-in-box systems:
The Bag in Box (BiB) system is an oil packaging solution that consists of three parts:
- A sealed, flexible plastic bag that holds the oil
- A built-in dispensing tap that prevents air infiltration
- A sturdy cardboard exterior for structural support
The dispenser is brought out of the special pre-punched opening located at the base, allowing oil to exit by gravity.
What Do Customers Expect from Packaging
Nowadays, customers are thinking about how olive oil is stored from production to the pantry rather than just purchasing it. When it comes to packaging, some of the factors that consumers are most interested in are:
- How long the packaging keeps oil fresh?
- Is it aesthetically pleasing?
- Is it environmentally friendly?
1. Oil Freshness
Light, oxygen and heat can speed up the oxidation process, turning olive oil rancid. Rancidity leads to unpleasant odors, flavors and reduced nutritional value.
Compared to refined olive oil, cold-pressed or virgin olive oil is more susceptible to degradation from heat, air, and light.
If you plan to use the oil within a few weeks, the packaging won’t make a big difference. But the longer the oil is stored, the impact of packaging on its freshness is more significant.
How Packaging Affects the Freshness of Olive Oil
Tins are ideal for extended storage, ensuring optimal protection against light and air (especially before opening), which are the main causes of rancidity and nutrient loss.
Opaque glass can also keep oil fresh, but not as long as tins. Dark glass is excellent for shorter-term use, allowing for easy pouring and better protection against light compared to clear glass bottles.
Bag-in-box systems are highly effective for preserving the freshness of olive oil, especially after opening.
Olive oil packaged in bag-in-box containers can retain its original quality throughout the 120-day storage period. The shelf life of olive oil packaged in tin-plated steel containers is limited to 80 days.
2. Estetic
Dark-colored (amber or green) glass bottles are the most attractive olive oil packaging. Tall, slender bottles are considered more elegant.
In the past, tins were commonly used for bulk purchases and restaurant supplies. Today, modern tins come with elegant designs suitable for kitchen countertops.
3. Low Environmental Impact
Sustainable packaging, such as recyclable materials, is a response to the increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly products. Many customers prefer glass bottles and tin cans over disposable plastic bottles.
Glass can be recycled and reused. By choosing dark glass bottles, both manufacturers and consumers not only care about product quality but also make a conscious choice for the planet and future generations.
Pros of Tin Packaging
- Superior light barrier: Unlike glass and plastic, tins completely block light, preventing photo-oxidation. Tin packaging can significantly prolong the shelf life of olive oil.
- Better thermal stability: Metal handles temperature fluctuations better and dissipates heat more efficiently than glass. Research indicates that well-sealed tin cans maintain optimal flavor for an additional 2–4 months compared to glass under similar conditions.
- Reduced shipping costs: Aluminum is lighter than glass. which can reduce shipping costs, making tins a more acceptable option for manufacturers. Additionally, tins won’t break during manipulation, which results in fewer accidents and reduced damage.
- Reusable and recyclable: Aluminum is reusable and recyclable, and therefore more environmentally friendly than plastic bottles.
Cons of Tin Packaging
- Poor transparency: You can’t see the content without opening. This may not be ideal for consumers who prefer to be able to see the product directly. You also can’t see the oil level after opening.
- Prone to rust: Although the surface of the steel can is tin-plated, it can develop rust during long-term use or storage, especially in a humid environment.
- Higher production costs: The manufacturing process of tins is relatively complex, which increases the cost of tin cans, making the final product more expensive.
- Difficult to open: Some tins require a can opener, and there’s a risk of spillage.
Pros of Glass Packaging
- Impermeability: Glass doesn’t allow oxygen and moisture to pass through, preventing oxidation that leads to rancidity. Dark glass blocks UV rays, protecting the oil from photo-oxidation.
- Superior Shelf Life: Because it protects against light, air, and chemical contamination, dark glass packaging extends the shelf life of olive oil.
- Consistent temperature: Dark glass offers better thermal insulation than plastic, making olive oil less susceptible to temperature fluctuations.
- Non-Porous: One of the biggest advantages of glass packaging is that it won’t absorb smells, tastes, or bacteria from what you store in it.
- Chemical inertness: Glass is non-reactive, meaning it will not leach chemicals into the oil. This ensures that the taste, aroma, and purity of the oil are not altered, even over long-term storage.
- Aesthetic appeal. Glass packaging is often perceived as more “high-end” than plastic bottles or tins. Glass bottles add an elegant touch that often reflects the superior quality of the products they contain.
- Transparent: The transparency of glass allows consumers to see the product, which can play a significant role in purchase decisions. A glass bottle also allows you to see the oil level after opening.
- Easy to open: Glass bottles are easier to open and reuse than tins.
- Sustainable: Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled forever without losing quality. Glass is also a favored material for reuse.
Cons of Glass Packaging
- High production costs: Despite its popularity among customers, glass is costly to produce. Producing and shaping glass uses heat, which requires a large amount of electricity.
- High Shipping Costs: Glass is heavy and fragile, which can affect shipping costs. To prevent breakage during transportation, glass bottles require more inside packaging.
- Low shatter resistance: Glass bottles are not durable enough to remain intact when dropped. When a glass bottle becomes broken, you cannot save the oil or the bottle. That is not the case with tins, plastic bottles, or bags-in-box systems.
Pros of Plastic Storage
- Lightweight: Plastic is significantly lighter than glass (around 60-70% lighter), reducing weight and cost during shipping, which also helps lower CO2 emissions.
- Cost-effective: Plastic bottles are generally cheaper to produce than glass or metal, which can result in lower prices for consumers.
- Shatter-resistant: Plastic bottles are unbreakable, which makes them a safe option for shipping and everyday use.
Cons of Plastic Storage
- Plastic is porous: Plastic bottles are too porous to ensure adequate protection from light, oxygen, or heat. Plastic allows light and air to penetrate, accelerating the degradation of olive oil. That is why plastic bottles retain flavor and aroma shorter time than glass bottles.
- Plastic is not inert: Plastic bottles can leach harmful chemicals into the oil, especially when exposed to heat, diminishing its quality.
- Not eco-friendly: The production of plastic bottles is significantly less sustainable than other options. High-density polyethylene is only recycled about 30% of the time.
Pros of Bag-in-Box Storage
- Minimizes air exposure during dispensing: Oxidation begins after opening, but this is not true when you buy oil in a bag-in-box. The oil won’t be exposed to oxygen because the tap allows oil to flow without air entering. The flexible bag creates a vacuum, so the oil remains without contact with air. Oil in the bag will remain fresh for over 100 days at room temperature after opening.
- More reliable than tins: The bag-in-box container protects the olive oil from light and oxygen, allowing it to maintain its extra virgin classification for 120 days at room temperature and 100 days at abuse temperatures.
- Low shipping costs: Bag-in-box products are convenient to ship and transport. The containers are stackable and space-efficient. This means that more bag-in-box systems can be shipped at the same time. In addition to lower shipping costs, CO2 emissions are also reduced.
- Sustainable manufacturing: The manufacture of bag-in-box packaging is significantly more sustainable than plastic packaging because it uses fewer resources. Cardboard is fully recyclable, renewable and biodegradable. Only the bag part is made of plastic, and it is a lower-density type.
Cons of Bag-in-Box Storage
- Reduced Durability: Cardboard boxes can bend out of shape under pressure or break down over time, particularly with repeated use.
- Moisture Sensitivity: The cardboard exterior is prone to damage in humid conditions, which can compromise the structural integrity of the container.
- Handling Issues: The lack of sturdy handles makes them difficult to carry.
- Limited Reusability: BIB systems are often designed for limited use, making them less suitable for frequent shipping.
The Place Where You Store Olive Oil Also Matters
The right packaging is important, so is the place where you keep the oil. Even the best bottle of oil will degrade quickly if you put it on a sunny counter or near the stove.
Store oil in a dark place, regardless of the fact that it is in dark glass. The perfect place to store olive oil is a cool, dark pantry or cupboard.
The optimal temperature for storing extra virgin olive oil is between 14 ºC and 18 ºC.
Finally, don’t store olive oil close to strong-smelling items, as it tends to absorb smells.
Conclusion
If you use olive oil within two months, and keep it in a dark cabinet, the type of packaging is not so important. It is ok to use tins or dark glass bottles. But if you keep olive oil stored for a long time and use it occasionally, tins are a better option to keep the oil fresh. If you prefer glass bottles, make sure to store the oil in a dark cabinet to ensure protection from light.
Glass might be a better option if you value convenience and reusability. Tin is superior if you value durability and protection.