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Up to date: October twenty third, 2023
Disposable plastic water bottles have develop into an emblem of fast and simple hydration. With a twist or pop of the cap, you may quench your thirst at residence or on the go. However what occurs to those bottles as soon as we’re executed with them?
Of the whopping 35 billion empty water bottles thrown away within the US yearly, solely 12% get recycled. The remainder typically results in oceans, dump websites, seashores, and different areas. Now we all know why US landfills are overflowing with over 2 million tons of discarded water bottles, and scientists estimate the world’s oceans will include extra plastic than fish by 2050.
As increasingly folks embrace the comfort of utilizing throwaway plastic water containers, it’s essential to grasp how this “use and toss” behavior is hurting our planet. Let’s begin by exploring the life cycle of a plastic bottle, then clarify why such a small proportion will get recycled, and the way it contaminates our treasured floor water sources.
For a few of us, making good monetary selections begins on the grocery retailer. Which means making a meals finances, procuring with a grocery listing, stockpiling groceries, and evaluating meals costs. Nonetheless, you may make a easy tweak to your procuring routine to assist trim down our grocery bills whereas bettering your well being and defending the setting: switching from bottled water to filtered water.
Shockingly, People spend $16 million on bottled water yearly when 99.2% of the nation has entry to scrub faucet water. Effectively, contemplating all of the crafty and compelling advertising and marketing ways used to advertise bottled water as a more healthy and safer selection than faucet water, it’s clear why People select to drink bottled water as a substitute.
However the actuality is that there’s some huge cash that goes into the manufacturing and distribution of bottled water, which, most of the time, trickles all the way down to customers like your self. Bottled water may be dear from the creation of the plastic bottles to packaging and distributing them. Let’s not neglect the added prices of gross sales and advertising and marketing, retailer markup, and so on.
That’s why as we speak, we’ll be breaking down the actual price of bottled water and present you how one can save large while you change to filtered water with out sacrificing style, high quality, and security.
Why is bottled water so well-liked in America as we speak?
Bottled water is an 18.5-billion-dollar-or-more business within the U.S., surpassing soda because the nation’s favourite beverage. Sure, almost the identical water that comes out of your faucet. However how did we get right here? How on earth did one thing accessible free of charge remodeled right into a billion-dollar business?
Every little thing began to alter in 1989 when polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET) was launched. PET is now the main sort of plastic used for bottled water, however earlier than that, water bottles have been manufactured with polyvinyl plastic, a dense and uninteresting materials. Virtually immediately, PET plastic grew to become the extra engaging packaging materials as a result of it’s light-weight, low cost, and makes the water appears to be like crystal clear and refreshing.
After being criticized for his or her sugary and fattening drinks, one other spike in recognition got here when PepsiCo and Coca-Cola launched their manufacturers of premium, purified water merchandise: Aquafina and Dasani, respectively. The businesses already had enormous distribution markets, so it was simple for them to promote bottled water to shops and eating places that have been already promoting their merchandise. And naturally, their huge promoting and advertising and marketing budgets helped generate plenty of publicity for his or her water manufacturers.
Within the midst of that, folks shortly flocked to bottled water as a result of municipal water was typically contaminated and sickening. Since bottled water was filtered to remove contaminants, it was mentioned to assist keep away from illnesses like typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and others. U.S. firms shelled out a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars} to boldly market bottled water as a supposedly crisper, safer, and more healthy possibility than faucet water to attraction to the health-conscious customers. Some firms even had advert campaigns to undermine faucet water not directly. It sounded terrific, plus there wasn’t a lot competitors from faucet water since utilities didn’t have advertising and marketing budgets.
So, just about, the mainstream firms garnered all the eye, and other people purchased into all of the messages they have been sending. Some firms even touted bottled water as a kidney treatment whereas some promised that their product would treatment the whole lot from “dyspepsia, liver and kidney complaints” to “seasickness, fever, and ague.”
Moreover that, some folks believed that bottled water supplied higher comfort and portability than faucet water. It’s mentioned to be extra handy to select up a single-serve plastic bottle and carry wherever they go than to pre-fill bottles from the faucet once they’re on the go, which was an enormous comfort issue that hadn’t existed earlier than.
Because of advertising and marketing, gradually-cheaper bottling, and distribution prices, comfort, supposed well being advantages, and different components, bottled water has develop into the most well-liked and highest-selling beverage within the U.S. as we speak.
The Lifecycle of a Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle
Sourcing—What are Plastic Water Bottles Made Of?
The lifecycle of plastic water bottles begins underground, the place oil and gasoline are extracted from deep beneath the earth’s floor. These fossil fuels are refined in services utilizing excessive temperatures and large quantities of water.
Manufacturing—How are the Bottles Made?
After being refined, the fossil gas is transported to a different facility, the place it’s remodeled into pellets created from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), an inexpensive, sturdy, and light-weight plastic materials. These PET pellets are melted till they develop into tender and malleable. Afterward, they’re molded into water bottles of varied styles and sizes, able to be shipped to bottling vegetation.
Distribution—Bottling and Transportation
On the bottling plant, the bottles are crammed, sealed, labeled, after which packaged into bigger containers for distribution to grocery shops and different distributors. Normally, bottled water is delivered from the plant in bulk by truck, ship, or rail to the retailer. The merchandise is stocked on cabinets able to be purchased by customers. As soon as bought, the bottled water is usually introduced residence, the place it’s used for numerous functions.
Disposal/Recycling—The place Do Disposable Water Bottles Finish Up After Use?
As talked about earlier, solely 12% of plastic water bottles get recycled. Usually, these bottles are collected and sorted by plastic resin sort, washed to take away contaminants, and shredded into small flakes which are melted all the way down to type pellets and used as uncooked materials for manufacturing new plastic merchandise.
However Why Are Most Plastic Water Bottles Not Being Recycled within the US?
Recycling plastic bottles looks like a logical step to scale back waste and environmental impression, but in the USA, most find yourself in landfills or oceans. There are a number of causes for this.
Inadequate recycling sources. The US typically exports tons of plastic waste abroad for recycling, primarily to China. The waste that continues to be behind typically can’t be processed effectively, because the nation doesn’t have sufficient processing vegetation in comparison with the variety of recyclable gadgets produced. Most vegetation are privately owned and costly to run, so there’s not sufficient to deal with the large inflow of plastic bottles. Including to this ordeal is China’s “Nationwide Sword” coverage, which formally bans post-industrial plastic from being imported from the US.
Not all plastic is recyclable. Not all plastic water bottles are manufactured from the identical sort of plastic. Some are manufactured from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is straightforward to recycle and may be was new bottles, clothes, or carpets. Others are manufactured from HDPE (high-density polyethylene), which can also be recyclable however much less invaluable and tougher to course of. Some are manufactured from different varieties of plastic, like PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PS (polystyrene), which aren’t recyclable and may be poisonous when burned. So, whilst you is perhaps doing all your half by recycling, the reality is that solely a tiny fraction of the plastic items may be sorted, processed, and was one thing new.
Plastic water bottle recycling consumes plenty of sources and power. The bottles have to be collected, sorted, cleaned, shredded, melted, and molded into new merchandise. This course of consumes water, electrical energy, gas, and chemical substances. Generally, making new plastic from oil may be cheaper and simpler than recycling previous plastic.
Producing bottled water requires a whopping 17 million barrels of oil yearly within the US. That’s sufficient to gas one million vehicles yearly. But it surely’s not simply in regards to the numbers—it’s additionally in regards to the setting. This a lot oil extraction depletes our restricted fossil gas reserves (a finite, nonrenewable useful resource) and provides extra greenhouse gases to the environment, worsening environmental points.
Moreover, all the manufacturing course of requires extra power. Heating, melting, and shaping plastic require substantial quantities of electrical energy, oil, or pure gasoline, contributing to carbon emissions and different environmental air pollution points. Moreover, it takes two liters of water to provide a single-liter bottle. Add one other liter to fill the bottle, and also you’re at a 3:1 liter ratio of water used to fill only one bottle.
The plastic have to be cleaned earlier than it may be recycled. Say you wished to recycle an empty plastic bottle you used to retailer cooking oil, however some residue stays. You would possibly assume it’s going to get washed and recycled, however that’s not all the time the case. Each plastic bottle that will get recycled must be sorted and cleaned. Why? As a result of it solely takes a tiny little bit of contamination to show a whole batch of PET resin into unusable trash. Recycling is an energy-intensive course of that turns into extra expensive as further steps, equivalent to post-consumer choice and washing, are added.
It is determined by client habits and infrastructure. Individuals have to be prepared and in a position to recycle their bottles, which suggests they want entry to recycling bins, packages, and services. Sadly, not all locations have these choices, or they’re inconvenient or complicated. Some folks additionally don’t care about recycling or don’t know how one can do it correctly. For instance, they may throw away the bottle caps, that are normally manufactured from a special sort of plastic than the bottles and might contaminate the recycling stream.
What Occurs to Plastic Water Bottles That Aren’t Recycled?
Plastic water bottles meant to be recycled can sit and gather in warehouses for years. And as you most likely know, plastic can take a very long time to interrupt down—like 450 years. Plastic bottle waste tossed into common trash cans and picked up from the setting are despatched to landfills.
As a result of empty plastic bottles are normally light-weight, they’re more likely to blow from landfills and streets or be carried away by rainwater into rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The plastic can break down into tiny bits referred to as microplastics, polluting floor water our bodies and harming vegetation, animals, the setting, and even people.
Results Of Plastic Air pollution on Marine Life
As soon as microplastics enter water sources, they develop into a persistent challenge for marine life. These tiny particles are extremely sturdy and might stay suspended within the water for prolonged durations.
As a result of the plastic particles is shiny and sufficiently small to be ingested, marine animals, from tiny plankton to turtles and seabirds, might mistake the plastic particles for meals, inflicting inner accidents, blockages, and malnutrition as soon as eaten. Because the plastic particles transfer up the meals chain, they’ll accumulate in larger portions in bigger predators, together with fish caught for human consumption. In response to the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), round 700 species of sea animals have been discovered to have ingested plastic.
Results of Microplastics in Ingesting Water on Human Well being
As defined in a earlier article, microplastics may also find yourself in floor water sources and, finally, consuming water. These plastic bits can introduce poisonous chemical substances into the water, as they typically take in pollution from their environment. If not filtered out, we would devour them unknowingly, probably introducing numerous contaminants into the physique. Normally, it’s not the plastic that’s the primary menace, however the bioactive chemical substances added to reinforce its look and performance.
BPA, particularly, is an endocrine disruptor that mimics hormones, altering their manufacturing, transport, and performance. It’s linked to coronary heart illness, sort 2 diabetes, fetal mind growth points, breast and prostate most cancers, bronchial asthma, and reproductive issues. Phthalates, one other ingredient in plastics, are endocrine disruptors linked to decreased testosterone, altered growth, and low sperm rely. They may improve weight problems, allergic reactions, and bronchial asthma signs.
Study extra: Microplastics in Ingesting Water & How To Scale back Danger of Ingestion | People Uncovered to five,000 Instances the Protected Degree of BPA, Research Finds
The price of shopping for bottled water for a yr
When grocery procuring, it’s simple to select up just a few bottles or instances of bottled water with out pondering too laborious in regards to the long-term price. In spite of everything, it’s simply water, and water is reasonable, proper? Not on this case.
Shopping for bottled water is a entice that almost all consumers proceed to fall into, particularly these attempting to chop again on their grocery payments. Spending a couple of dollars on a bottle of water from time to time may not look like an enormous deal, however while you make it an everyday behavior, the prices can shortly add up. Heck, you may find yourself paying as much as 4,000 % extra on bottled water than filtered faucet water, although as a lot as 64% of bottled water is faucet water.
In response to Meals & Water Watch, “A gallon’s value of single-serve bottled water prices nearly $9.50 — almost 2,000 instances the value of faucet water, thrice the nationwide common worth for a gallon of milk and 4 instances the nationwide common worth for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline.”
Well being authorities generally suggest eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, which equals to about two liters or half a gallon. However let’s assume all members of a family of 4 adults devour half of this really useful water consumption as a substitute. Which means every particular person drinks 4 8-ounce glasses or 0.25 gallon of water per day.
With these values in thoughts, let’s do some math:
- Day by day consumption for all 4 folks: 25 gallon of water for every particular person x 4 individuals = 1 gallon of bottled water
- Whole spent on bottled water per day: $9.50 per gallon x 1 gallon of water for 4 folks = $9.50
- Whole spent on bottled water for a yr: $9.50 per day x 365 (days in a yr) = $3,468
Shopping for bottled water in bulk would most likely price much less, however that’s only a ballpark determine. Now let’s examine that to the price of utilizing a whole-house water filter.
How a lot will I save with an entire home water filtration system?
Filtering your faucet water at house is a secure and low-cost approach to achieve full entry to scrub, wholesome, and great-tasting consuming water with out losing cash shopping for bottled water. An entire-house filtering system affords the identical or better-quality water than bottled water, in addition to an identical or larger degree of comfort.
An honest-quality, good-sized whole-house filter retails for about $800 and requires filter modifications each six to 9 months or so at the price of about $40 per pair of filter replacements. Due to this fact, a household of 4 might want to change the filters a few times per yr for $40 or $80 with out skilled assist. Though some whole-house methods include manuals that enable for simple DIY set up, individuals who choose to rent knowledgeable plumber or handyman as a substitute will most likely need to fork out an additional $300 on common in set up charges.
There’s additionally the water from the faucet, which prices about $0.0015 per gallon within the U.S. From our instance above, a household of 4 consumes about 365 gallons of water per yr (one gallon per day for one year), which quantities to $0.55. On condition that some family members will even want water once they’re on the run, let’s throw in about two 12-dollar reusable water bottles per particular person ($96 in whole). So, assuming the filters are changed twice per yr, the full price of utilizing a whole-house water filter system per yr for a household of 4 is:
$80 (filter substitute) + $0.55 (water from the faucet) + $96 (reusable water bottles) = $176.55
Please word that this worth excludes the price of the filter system in addition to the non-obligatory set up prices. Since the price of the system and the set up prices are one-time funds, the listed worth represents the full quantity you’ll pay the next yr after the filter has already been bought and put in the earlier yr. So, meaning a household of 4 can probably save $3,468 – $176.55 = $3,291.45 every year after switching from bottled water to a whole-house filter.
An entire-house filter additionally helps you chop prices by avoiding frequent physician visits because of the poisonous chemical substances contained within the plastic bottles, which frequently leach into the water contained in the container. Other than financial financial savings, nevertheless, whole-house filters assist to enhance your well being, scale back your carbon footprint, and shield the setting.
What Can You Do About Plastic Water Bottle Air pollution?
Though recycling disposable plastic water bottles alone received’t resolve plastic air pollution, we should always nonetheless do it. However we should bear in mind what can and can’t be recycled and contemplate the nation’s restricted plastic recycling capability and different hurdles. So, we should always attempt our greatest to scale back the necessity for recycling by lowering the quantity of plastic we use.
Listed below are some easy and simple methods to attain that:
Use a water filter. Don’t fall for the slick promoting that tells you bottled water is purer or safer than faucet water. If you’re involved in regards to the high quality and style of your consuming water at residence, check the water or receive a water high quality report out of your water supplier. If vital, put money into a water filtration system to take away all undesirable contaminants and impurities to make sure your faucet water isn’t solely clear, wholesome, and secure however tastes and smells nice.
Take into account eco-friendly filtration choices like reverse osmosis (RO) methods. RO filters provide high-quality, great-tasting consuming water corresponding to, if not superior to, many bottled water manufacturers. Making the change will get monetary savings and assist lower the dimensions of your plastic footprint over the long run.
Associated: The Greatest Water Filtration Programs for Your Dwelling
Carry a reusable water bottle. Change to utilizing reusable water bottles created from stainless-steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic to scale back the consumption of single-use plastic bottles drastically. Fill your reusable bottle at residence with filtered water earlier than heading out to keep away from shopping for bottled water and producing extra plastic waste whereas on the go. This can assist to guard the setting and human well being.
Advocate and educate. Elevate consciousness about plastic air pollution and its impression. Encourage buddies, household, and your neighborhood to make use of reusable bottles and share this text with them to assist them higher perceive the hazards of microplastics.
Help refill stations. Search for companies and public locations that provide water refill stations. Ask your native consultant in case your county can set up extra water fountains so folks in your neighborhood can hydrate or refill reusable bottles extra simply. This can scale back the necessity for single-use plastic bottles and encourages a sustainable different.
Ensure to recycle. When you use plastic bottles, observe native recycling tips and use designated recycling bins to recycle. While you see an empty, used water bottle sitting on the road or in a park, please choose it up and drop it in an applicable recycling bin.
Remaining Ideas
Though most of the plastic bottles we use day by day are recyclable, most find yourself in all of the mistaken locations—like oceans, seashores, forests, you identify it. It’s an actual drawback as a result of plastic takes ages to decompose. When it does, it breaks down into smaller items referred to as microplastics.
Fortunately, there’s lots we will do to scale back the quantity of plastic we use daily. A superb place to start out is utilizing a water filter and carrying a reusable water bottle. We will additionally unfold the phrase about plastic air pollution and push for extra water refill stations in city areas. Certain, recycling remains to be vital, however these easy measures may also help us combat plastic air pollution and its results on marine life and human well being.
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