The true cost of bottled water

With the world bracing itself for a climate emergency, and many countries already feeling the impact of global warming, now is the time to start making a change to our consumer behaviour.

Bottled water is one of the most popular items on our shopping lists, with 19% of Brits admitting to drinking bottled water every single day. On average, each person in the UK consumes a huge 50 litres of bottled water per year.

It’s clear that we are all buying far too many plastic bottles, rather than drinking the water from our kitchen taps. But how much does bottled water actually cost to produce?

How much does bottled water cost?

The average cost of tap water in the UK is 0.1 pence per litre, compared to 65p for 1 litre of bottled water. The profit margins on bottled water are very high, between 50% –200%. This is a great incentive for companies to produce bottled water, but not so great for our environment.

To produce a bottle of water, it takes three times as much water as the bottle itself can hold. The other costs include production, packaging, shipping, and marketing. It is a very expensive process, with hundreds of employees working in the factories, shipping companies, and marketing teams. Bottled water has become an industry of its own.

Despite the money that the industry makes to the economy, we have to consider the impact it is having on our environment.

The effect of bottled water on the environment

The World Counts has a counter that tracks the tons of plastic waste being dumped into the ocean every second. It is estimated that one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into our oceans every single minute. It can take 1000 years for one piece of plastic to decompose, and we are constantly adding to this number. 80% of all the plastic bottles we purchase will end up in landfills, where they will stay forever.

Additionally, plastic water bottles are made from a petroleum product called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and this requires huge amounts of fossil fuels to make and transport. As you know, fossil fuels are one the major causes of global warming, so this process is completely unsustainable. In order to reduce the amount of plastic bottles being created, we have to decrease the demand for bottled water itself.

How can I reduce my bottled water consumption?

Reducing your bottled water consumption is simple if you are committed to making a difference. Here are three easy tips:

1. Carry a reusable bottle with you – purchase a reusable bottle that you can carry with you everywhere you go. This way, you’ll never feel the need to buy a bottle of water when you’re out and about.

2. Filter your drinking water – if you prefer bottled water as you don’t like the taste of your tap water at home, there are easy ways to filter your water – look into buying a water filter jug to improve the taste.

3. Install a drinking water tap – we recommend installing a drinking water tap in your kitchen, as it provides your family with pure, clean, drinking water in your home.