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Bottled Water: An Evidence-Based Overview of Economic Viability, Environmental Impact, and Social Equity
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This review analyzes the bottled water industry through the lens of sustainability, examining its economic growth, environmental footprint, and social equity implications. Researchers found that bottled water production involves significant energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, and generates substantial plastic packaging pollution including microplastic contamination. The study suggests that while the industry has made some voluntary sustainability commitments, the cumulative environmental and health costs of bottled water remain considerable compared to tap water alternatives.
This paper considers bottled water with respect to the three pillars of sustainability: economic viability, environmental impacts, and social equity. Per-capita consumption of bottled water has been growing steadily and is the fastest-growing sector of the packaged beverages industry, with expected annual growth of 10% until 2026. Most bottled water is sold in PET containers, and various impacts are evident along all phases of the product lifecycle. This paper reviews market trends and forecasts, lifecycle estimates of energy consumption, associated air pollution and GHG emissions, water footprint, and waste generation. Concerns around human and ecosystem health due to pollution, land use changes, storage conditions, microplastics, and leaching from containers are described, as well as local environmental benefits from companies’ efforts to preserve the quality of their source water. Growing awareness of the cumulative negative impacts of bottled water have pushed the industry to voluntarily improve its performance. Yet, as growth continues, further actions should focus on stricter regulation and on the provision of more sustainable, affordable, available, and trusted alternatives. Gaps remain in knowledge of the effects of bottled water over its full life cycle.
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Ethics of Manufacturing and Supplying Bottled Water: A Systematic Review
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This systematic review examines ethical concerns around bottled water, including microplastic contamination, environmental damage from plastic production, and unequal access to clean water. It highlights that bottled water can contain microplastics, making it a potential source of ongoing exposure for regular consumers.
The Impact of Packaged Drinking Water on Consumer Health, Environment, and Market Trends
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This report examines the health, environmental, and market dimensions of packaged drinking water, reviewing evidence on microplastic contamination and chemical leaching from plastic packaging alongside marketing practices and regulatory frameworks. It finds significant consumer health and environmental concerns and identifies gaps in regulatory oversight of the bottled water industry.
Rethinking bottled water in public health discourse
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This study assessed microplastic ingestion in wild crabs from an intertidal zone adjacent to a major plastic waste disposal site. All sampled crabs contained plastic particles in digestive tracts, with the highest loads found closest to the waste site, demonstrating the direct contamination pathway from plastic waste to adjacent marine organisms.
Occurrence of Microplastics in Tap and Bottled Water: Current Knowledge
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This review summarizes current research on microplastic contamination in both tap and bottled drinking water. Researchers found that microplastics are present in both water sources, with bottled water generally containing higher concentrations than tap water, and smaller particles being more abundant. The study raises public health concerns and emphasizes the need for improved detection methods and drinking water treatment standards.
Analytical Review of Microplastics Occurrence in Bottled Water, Tap Water, and Wastewater Treatment Plants
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This review analyzes microplastic contamination across bottled water, tap water, and wastewater treatment plants using data from studies worldwide. Researchers found that microplastic levels in drinking water are closely tied to the water source and that packaging type significantly influences contamination, with glass bottles recommended over plastic. The study emphasizes the need for improved water treatment technologies and greater public awareness about microplastic exposure through drinking water.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.