In the “Wizard of Oz,” among the many concerns that Dorothy encounters on her quest for home is the musically entertaining “lions and tigers and bears, oh my.” Although not potentially threatening like wild animals, a trio of options often presents itself to beverage manufacturers in the form of packaging: plastic, aluminum and glass, oh my.

As beverage-makers continue to address consumers’ desire for more choices in the beverage aisle, they also are tasked with selecting packages that protect their products, convey their brand messages, and address sustainability and cost at the same time. Although brand owners have a number of other beverage packaging options — such as pouches, cartons, aseptic and bag-in-box — from which to choose, below is an in-depth look at the three primary packaging materials initially named.