Why Amber Glass Jars are Perfect for CBD Products
Packaging is an integral part of every business. It’s not only the first impression a customer will have of your product, but it’s also what protects the product itself. While some products won’t rely on their packaging as much, others will need carefully-selected packaging to keep their contents safe and secured.
CBD is a versatile but very sensitive ingredient, and it can easily take damage from environmental threats, particularly light. There are two types of light: the light we can see and the light we can’t see. Ultraviolet (UV) light is invisible to the human eye, as its wavelength is too short for us to detect, but it’s also the most dangerous and destructive light.
How UV light impacts CBD products
In the same way that UV light can be bad for our skin, it can also contribute to the breakdown of CBD. There are several chemical compounds in CBD that synergistically work together to create the “Entourage Effect”. This is where the behaviour of cannabinoids changes in the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes, and it can strengthen the positive effects while minimising any unwanted effects.
However, exposure to UV light can negatively impact the effects of CBD products as it breaks down these chemical bonds and increases the consumer’s risk of unpleasant side effects. By disrupting the entourage effect, UV light significantly reduces the effectiveness and potency of CBD.
While it’s bad enough that UV light strips CBD of its benefits, it may also create serious health risks for consumers. When exposed to UV light, certain types of microbes and harmful bacteria can proliferate and break down CBD. This doesn’t just make your products less potent but also dangerous to consume. As these harmful bacteria grow, they can shorten your product’s shelf-life and change the way CBD oil looks, smells, and tastes.
Why Amber Glass Jars are the right solution
Amber glass jars and bottles are quite popular, most commonly used for pharmaceuticals and supplements as they offer a lot more protection than standard clear glass. Their darker colour makes them ideal for storing light-sensitive ingredients, like CBD.
Lasting quality and potency
The quality of CBD is determined by a rich cannabinoid and terpene profile, as the entourage effect enhances the product’s benefits. Since UV light can break down these valuable compounds, CBD products lose their quality and effectiveness. Amber glass jars prevent this by completely blocking out UV light and maintaining the product’s quality and potency for longer.
Extended shelf-life
Amber glass jars help protect the products from spoilage and oxidation by reducing the amount of light exposure CBD products get, which significantly improves their shelf-life.
Unlike other types of glass, amber glass jars can also protect CBD from blue light, which causes photochemical damage. While customers generally know to keep their CBD products out of direct sunlight, the blue light commonly found in phones, TVs, and laptops can do just as much damage and cause CBD oil to degrade and expire faster.
Better customer experience
Amber glass jars help keep CBD products fresh for longer, preventing unpleasant customer experiences while still in use. By limiting light exposure and blocking out destructive UV rays, amber glass jars protect CBD from harmful bacteria that negatively impact the way CBD products taste, look, and smell.
Since most people tend to keep their CBD products somewhere open and accessible, it’s important to make it as easy as possible for customers to protect their products’ quality. Amber glass jars do just that by blocking out harmful light, no matter where they are stored.
How do other types of glass compare?
Each type of colored-glass filters light differently, which is why certain colours are more suitable for specific products and purposes.
Clear glass jars are completely transparent and expose your product to all types of light. They don’t block UV light which can cause CBD products to spoil and degrade faster than with other materials. While clear glass may be a good option for products that are used more liberally and don’t last as long, such as some CBD edibles, it won’t offer enough protection for expensive CBD oils.
Green and blue colored glass jars are better at reducing visible light, but they don’t offer any protection from UV light or even blue light. While many CBD businesses use green or blue glass jars to align with their branding, they aren’t as effective at preserving the product’s quality as amber glass jars and bottles are.
The Bottom Line
The packaging of your CBD products can determine their potency, shelf-life, and lasting quality, which is why amber glass packaging is considered the industry standard. If you’re thinking about using amber glass packaging for your CBD business, or aren’t sure what type of packaging best fits your needs, feel free to contact us with any questions or enquiries.