a coated plastic container provides for low permeability to gases and vapors . a method and system for coating plastic containers includes applying a thin inorganic oxide layer to the external surface of the containers with plasma - assisted vacuum vapor deposition . for example , the coating can include silica which is bonded to the external surface of the container . this coating is flexible and can be applied regardless of the container &# 39 ; s internal pressure or lack thereof . the coating firmly adheres to the container and possess an enhanced gas barrier effect after pressurization even when the coating is scratched , fractured , flexed and / or stretched . moreover , this gas barrier enhancement will be substantially unaffected by filling of the container . a method of recycling coated plastic containers and a method and system for packaging a beverage using the coated containers are also disclosed .