Commercial beverage packaging in chemistry classes

Abstract

In this work we developed activities that enable students to select the most suitable materials for packing soft drinks. We considered economic, environmental and technical aspects concerning commercial beverage packaging. The interventions were carried out in experimental chemistry classes. The concepts of density and thermal capacity of materials were studied. Considering the importance of graphic literacy in the students’ citizenship, the data were worked through not only textual but also graphic and algebric resources. It was observed that the students presented some difficulties to elaborate graphs from tables with experimental data and to interpret information. The results obtained in the experimental stages generated knowledge for the construction of the arguments and discussions about the choice of the most efficient packaging taking into account aspects related to energy expenditure with transportation, CO2 emission (in the manufacture of packaging and distribution of products). The influence of the composition of the package in the process of cooling the beverage was investigated.