Reusable Water Bottles Reduce Plastic Pollution

Why the Bottled Water Business Fears the Reusable Bottle Trend

Nov 26, 2009 Amanda Woods

The old fashioned concept of filling a bottle with tap water is getting a makeover thanks to increased environmental awareness and stylish new reusable water bottles.

For more than three decades, the bottled water industry enjoyed year on year growth. Now sales are starting to drop as people consider the environmental impact and turn back to reusable water bottles.

Around 2.7 million tonnes of plastic is used to bottle water around the world every year. Recycling rates are poor, with most of the plastic from the single use water bottles ending up in either landfill or the environment, where they can take hundreds of years to break down.

As people consider the environmental cost of the plastic that is used to bottle water, and the fossil fuels that are burned transporting the water around the world, an increasing number are looking for greener alternatives including reusable water bottles.

The Environmental Impact of Bottled Water Bans

In July 2009 the Australian town of Bundanoon became the first town in Australia, and possibly the world, to ban bottled water. The ban came about after locals realised a Sydney water company planned to extract water from their town, bottle it up, and sell it back to them.

Discussing a university that was considering its own bottled water ban, economist Daniel Hamermesh argued in his Freakonomics blog in The New York Times that such a ban would not necessarily lead to a reduction in plastic pollution.

“Presumably, they figure that bottled-water consumers will switch to tap water, as tap water is bottled water’s closest substitute.” Hamermesh wrote. “I wonder — aren’t bottled soft drinks a closer substitute? Don’t people want the convenience of a container at their desk rather than an occasional drink at the water cooler (or a cup to be filled at the water cooler)?”

While there are no doubt people who will simply buy whatever is cold and convenient, as more people embrace the old fashioned, frugal – and environmentally sound – concept of carrying reusable water bottles, the number of plastic bottles is reduced. In 2008, bottled water sales dropped by 9 per cent for the first time in 30 years.

As Inside the Bottle points out: “There is simply no evidence to support the claim that individuals will return to drinking unhealthy soda beverages if bottled water is not available…. The truth is that the choice is not only between bottled water and soda beverages, the real choice is between private goods and public water.”

Turning to Tap Water Can Save Thousands of Dollars a Year

While there are some parts of the world where water is not safe for consumption, and people need to rely on bottled water, many countries have healthy drinking water on tap. In fact, some bottled water brands are nothing more than distilled tap water.

Environmental groups such as Clean Up the World are quick to point out that in countries where safe drinking water is available, people can save more than a thousand dollars a year by giving up bottled water and turning to the tap.

Reusable Water Bottles Enjoy Stylish Make Over

Reusable water bottles are enjoying a fashionable make over as people look for stylish ways to make an environmental statement. At the 2009 Sundance Festival, attendees were presented with free reusable water bottles by Nalgene, which they could refill at Brita water stations throughout the festival.

A range of other stylish options are available, including the Sustain water bottles range from Aladdin. Made with the international award winning material, eCycle, the Sustain bottles are built to last, made out of recycled materials, and at the end of their life can be recycled once again.

As the environmental impact of bottled water continues to trickle into the community’s awareness, and reusable water bottles fight back, it’s little wonder bottled water companies are worried about how fast the tide could turn.

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The copyright of the article Reusable Water Bottles Reduce Plastic Pollution in Green/Simple Living is owned by Amanda Woods. Permission to republish Reusable Water Bottles Reduce Plastic Pollution in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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