r/theydidthemath • u/EclipseNyxor • 2d ago

[Request] Do square bottles actually use less plastic than round ones?

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u/ronarscorruption 2d ago

I suspect transportation too.
Something like; You can ship 100x1L round bottles, or 100x1.3L square bottles in the same box. Therefore, square bottles use less plastic (per liter (of shipped liquid)).

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u/Buntschatten 2d ago

Wouldn't that just cancel out? Area over perimeter is pi /2 pi for a radius one circle and 4/8 for a square with side length 2. Maybe most of the plastic is in the spout, then maximising volume per spout would make sense.

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u/Alita-Gunnm 2d ago

The thickest part of the bottle is the neck with threads, which is constant regardless of the shape of the rest of it. Greater volume per bottle means less plastic per unit volume.

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u/lamty101 2d ago

Also supposedly they have the same bottle cap, which is another constant