Ever thought about the real costs of a plastic (water) bottle? Plastic water bottles have become a staple in many people’s daily routines, but the true cost of these convenient on-the-go bottles goes far beyond the price listed on the store shelf. In fact, the manufacture, economic, and environmental costs of plastic water bottles add up to a much higher price tag than we may realize.

THE ACTUAL COSTS OF A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE - NOT THE ONE WE PAY IN STORE

Bottled water cost is astounding when you think of how much you’re actually paying for production and distribution compared to the water itself. It’s even more shocking when you consider the negative effects it has on the environment at every stage of its existence (and the pre- and after existence). Each time you buy bottled water, you’re really paying for the plastic. Or rather, the costs associated with manufacturing said plastic. In fact, more than 90% of what you’re paying is for the bottle itself. Think of what you could save if you only had to buy the water!

From the amount of energy and materials that are needed for plastic bottle production to the landfill waste that continues to pile up without decomposition, bottled water is costly. It is safe to say that it is cleaner for the environment to utilize reusable non-plastic bottles or use our Aquablu REFILL: a smart water tap and refill station that purifies water and adds important minerals and vitamins.

THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF WATER BOTTLES

According to a study by the Pacific Institute, the manufacture of plastic water bottles requires a significant amount of energy and resources. It takes three times the amount of water to manufacture a single bottle of water as it does to fill it, and the production process also generates greenhouse gas emissions in the form of CO2. In addition to the energy and resource costs, the transportation of bottled water adds to its carbon footprint. All of these factors contribute to the high economic cost of plastic water bottles.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS

The environmental cost of plastic water bottles is perhaps even more concerning. Plastic bottles take hundreds of years to break down in landfills, and the production and disposal of these bottles contribute significantly to plastic pollution. In fact, it is estimated that only a small percentage of plastic water bottles are recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills or our oceans. The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife and ecosystems is well documented and can be devastating. If we don’t do anything about the plastic soup we’re currently in, there will soon be more plastic than fish in our oceans. Just imagine swimming in the sea together with Coca-Cola bottles, instead of marine life.