What is more expensive, the soda or the can?

Friend of mine worked at Coke for awhile and she gave me a book called Naked Economics, which broke down the average cost of a can of soda. Here's where the money goes:

09% Contents

05% Production & Management

18% Packaging & Materials

45% Marketing

12% Logistics & Transportation

08% Distribution

03% Misc. Services & Support

So the package costs TWICE as much as the contents.

There was an article in the May 12, 2007, The New York Times (Incredible Shrinking Packages) that many companies now look at being environmentally friendly as appealing to consumers and helping the bottom line. Coke has redesigned their classic bottle to make it smaller and lighter -- thus using less materials.

The can is mainly made of metal materials. Metal is more expensive than the materials that go into the soda, since it is harder to come by large amounts. Metal is in higher demand currently, so therefore it is more expensive.

The obvious answer would be the can, but what if the soda is a significant cause of obesity? Wouldn't that affect health care spending significantly?

The can costs approximately 17 cents. The soda, (my answer is for coca cola classic) 13 cents.

Probably the taxes on the company who sells the soda.

I would say that the soda is more expensive in terms of how it affects our health. The can can always be recycled and used for more healthier drinks. Like gatorade.

The can has more overall harmful factors that contribute to the making of the can, therefore making the can, very, very expensive.

I would say the can is. I'm sure millions of people throw away cans each day and each can adds up. However, instead of throwing the can away, recycle it!!

Can certainly.

Takes a lot of energy to produce a can.

The can!