Juice boxes are typically made up of six layers of paper, polyethylene plastic, and aluminum foil. A juice box is an "aseptic" container, meaning it is manufactured and filled under sterile conditions and requires no refrigeration or preservatives to remain germ free. Juice boxes are widely popular for their portability, convenience, and sturdy construction.

The positive traits come with an environmental tradeoff, however. Juice boxes, because of their construction, are not as easy to recycle as other types of packages, and many community recycling services will not accept them. The state of Maine, concerned about the environmental impact of juice boxes, went so far as to ban their sale. This ban was later repealed, but other states have considered adopting similar legislation.

Juice box manufacturers argue that aseptic containers are actually friendlier to the environment than other types of containers. For one, they take up less room than cans or bottles when being transported on trucks from factory to store, thus conserving energy by requiring fewer trips and using less fuel. The aseptic filling process itself also requires less energy than traditional canning and bottling methods. However, rather than choosing between juice boxes and bottles or cans, the best solution may be the one that Brad learned in the video: a reusable bottle or thermos.

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