Tritan vs polystyrene: reusable glasses vs disposable plastic wine glasses
By Kirsty Cook, Govino SA · Updated · 2 min read
Short answer: Polystyrene "crystal" party glasses are cheap per unit but designed for one use: they are brittle, crack into sharp pieces and are rarely recycled in South Africa. Reusable Tritan™ glasses like Govino cost more up front but last for years, are dishwasher safe and look like real glassware. Over several events, Tritan costs less per use.
Polystyrene vs Tritan
| Polystyrene (PS) | Tritan (Govino) | |
|---|---|---|
| Uses per glass | 1 | Hundreds |
| Breaks? | Cracks and snaps, sharp edges | Shatterproof |
| Wine experience | Thin rim, no real bowl | Wine-glass bowl, polished rim |
| Dishwasher | No | Yes |
| End of life | Resin code 6, rarely recycled in SA | Reused for years |
| Branding | Printed per batch | Logo-branded, kept as a keepsake |
Is polystyrene bad for the environment?
Polystyrene is light and bulky, so it's uneconomical to collect and is rarely recycled in South Africa. Most party glasses end up in landfill or as litter after one use. A reusable glass replaces that stream entirely.
When does a reusable glass pay for itself?
If you host more than a couple of events a year, or run a venue, reusable usually wins. The maths is in reusable vs disposable cups: the real cost.
Quick answers
Are plastic wine glasses from party shops reusable?
Most hard 'crystal' party glasses are polystyrene and designed for single use. They crack easily and aren't dishwasher safe.
What is a reusable alternative to disposable wine glasses?
Tritan glasses such as Govino Shatterproof Wine. They're shatterproof, dishwasher safe and last for years.
Is polystyrene recyclable in South Africa?
Technically yes, but very little is collected and recycled in practice, so most ends up in landfill.