Stop Polluting the Planet with Disposable Plastic Water Bottles

Stop Killing the Planet with Plastic Water Bottle Pollution

Disposable plastic water bottles are a convenient way to stay hydrated, but they have major consequences on the health of our planet—not to mention the people who drink from them. The production and disposal of bottled water negatively impacts the Earth’s resources, the size of our landfills, and even the level of water pollution in the fluids you drink every day. The statistics and other details below explore that impact in more detail, including how reusable water bottles act as a strongly preferable alternative. Be sure to share the full infographic at the bottom of this page to spread the word about the dangers of disposable containers.

Bottled Water Facts & Statistics

If you use disposable water bottles, here are some important concerns you should know about how they’re made as well as the problems they cause for the planet, your health, and your wallet.

Industrial Production

Manufacturing Bottled Water Requires Significant Resources
Some of disposable water bottles’ most harmful effects occur before they actually exist—while they’re still being made. They require a significant amount of resources to produce, and the byproducts can be dire.

  • Plastic bottles for water are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • It takes 1/4 of a bottle of oil to produce a single water bottle.
  • 90% of bottled water’s cost comes from making the bottle.

Bottled Water Consumes Industrial Amounts of Oil
It takes 17 million barrels of oil to make one year’s supply of bottled water. That much oil could fuel 1.3 million cars for a year or power 190,000 homes!

Tons of Carbon Dioxide Released Every Year by the Bottled Water Industry
Bottling water releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.

Effects on the Environment

The Many Harmful Environmental Effects of Pastic Water Bottles

Bottled water creates serious danger when it comes to the size of our landfills, as well as the conservation of our water resources and marine life. Read on to learn more about the harmful effects of bottled water on the environment.

  • 38 billion water bottles (over 2 million tons) end up in U.S. landfills each year.
  • Most bottled water comes from places with limited water supplies, like California. Nestle even created a water shortage in Pakistan.
  • Plastic waste (including plastic bottles) washes into the ocean and kills 1.1 million marine creatures annually.

Health Risks & Concerns

Health Risks & Concerns of Plastic Water Bottles
Bottled water isn’t just bad for the health of our planet—it has a detrimental effect on our own bodies. Water bottles contain chemicals like BPA and antimony that can cause reproductive issues, asthma and dizziness. Studies even suggest a possible risk of breast cancer.

Testing Bottled Water for Microbes & Other Pollutants
Bottled water is tested for microbes and other water pollution four times less than tap water.

Water Costs

Bottled Water is Very Expensive Compared to Tap & Filtered Water
Water packaged in disposable bottles is shockingly expensive when compared to other sources of drinkable water. For the recommended amount of eight glasses of water a day, bottled water costs:

  • $1,800 a year
  • 26 times more than a filtered pitcher
  • 3,675 times more than tap water

Infographic - Bottled Water Facts

Facts About Plastic Water Bottle Pollution


Reusable Water Bottle Facts & Statistics

Fortunately, reusable water bottles offer a wide range of advantages in terms of both environmental impact and promoting your business.

Environmental Benefits

Avoid Environmental Risks with Reusable Water Bottles
Reusable bottles are a safe, less wasteful and ultimately more cost-effective alternative to disposable ones. Using reusable bottles allows you to:

  • Lower the amount of waste in landfills
  • Reduce or eliminate harmful chemicals
  • Protect animals and their natural habitat

Environmental Benefits of Reusable Water Bottles
In addition to avoiding eco-hazards, reusable bottles:

  • Are still recyclable
  • Save hundreds of dollars
  • Help companies grow

Business Perks

53% of Customers Use Promotional Products

Like other promotional products, custom water bottles are highly effective at increasing brand awareness and setting you apart from competitors in your industry.

  • 53% of customers use promotional products once a week
  • 85% of customers make a purchase after receiving promotional products
  • Companies that give out promotional products receive 5 times as many customer referrals

Infographic - Reusable Water Bottle Facts

Reusable Water Bottle Facts - Environmental Benefits & Business Promotional Perks


Choosing a Sustainable Water Bottle

Before you decide on the best reusable water bottle for your business, it’s best to ask yourself these questions:

  • Who will use it?
  • Where will they use it?
  • How much water does it need to hold?
  • How quickly do they need to access the water?
  • Does the water need to stay insulated?

Pros and Cons by Type

Once you have a better idea of the purposes you need to fulfill and the benefits of using reusable water bottles, you can start to look at the advantages and disadvantages that each bottle material offers.

Reusable Plastic Water Bottle
Plastic Water Bottle

 

Pros
  • Easy-to-use lids
  • Medium durability
  • Cost-effective
  • Can freeze water inside
Cons
  • May contain BPA
  • Plastic smell and taste
  • Produced with non-reusable resources
Reusable Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Stainless Steel Water Bottle

 

Pros
  • BPA-free
  • Doubles as cookware
  • Most durable
  • Typically insulated
Cons
  • Slightly heavy
  • Can be expensive
  • Metallic taste
Reusable Glass Water Bottle
Glass Water Bottle

 

Pros
  • No plastic or metal taste
  • BPA-free
  • No health risks
  • Transparent for intake management
Cons
  • Not insulated
  • Can be heavy
  • Most fragile

Infographic - Choosing the Best Water Bottle

Compare the Best Reusable Water Bottles & Their Benefits


Conclusion

None of this is to say that you should never drink bottled water from a disposable container. It can be handy in a pinch, but its long-term negative side effects are dire—and it also can’t be used to promote a business as simply as reusable promotional bottles can. When you look at the pros and cons of each type of container, there’s simply no good reason not to switch to eco-friendly reusable bottles.

To inform others about these facts and tips, embed or share the full infographic below.

Plastic Water Bottle Pollution [Infographic]: Facts & Environmental Effects of Bottled Water

Works Cited

National Geographic – Why Tap Water is Better Than Bottled Water
New York Times – Canada Likely to Label Plastic Ingredient ‘Toxic’
ABC News – Study: Bottled Water No Safer Than Tap Water
Everyday Feminism – 5 Reasons to Break Your Plastic Water Bottle Habit (Yes, Even if You Recycle!)
The Water Project – Making a Clear Choice
Ban the Bottle – Bottled Water Facts
One Green Planet – Is it Really Worth the Convenience? 6 Ways Plastic is Harming Animals, the Planet and Us
Pacific Institute – Bottled Water and Energy Fact Sheet

Take Action

To fight back against the environmental hazards of disposable plastic bottles, visit the Plastic Pollution Coalition for more info. You can also get involved with the International Coastal Cleanup to help keep our beaches and oceans clear of dangerous waste.

Do you have other helpful resources related to finding a more eco-friendly alternative to disposable bottles? Share them in the comments below!

Posted in Marketing, Promotional Marketing

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Printwand Staff
Author: Printwand Staff

Our marketing, design and printing experts are passionate about sharing their knowledge. We're eager to help make your vision a reality in print. Be sure to explore the rest of the Printwand blog for more reliable, easy-to-understand information.


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