Worldwide, The bottled water industry has grown 73% in the past ten years. Every minute, over 1 mn bottles are sold globally.
This growth poses a threat to groundwater resources, contributes to the plastic-bottle pollution and carbon emissions, and weakens the role of the state to provide universal access to drinking water, see this report from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.
Over 97% of bottled water containers are made of plastic. The report argues that legislation is needed to regulate the industry and its water standards, and to provide data on water volume extractions and impact on society and the environment.
The report noted that 85% of all plastics bottles sold become waste, which also impacts the marine environment as a majority of the plastics waste found in oceans is transported via rivers.
Recycling these bottles is relatively easy, especially if they are collected separately. There are now various collection and recycling initiatives worldwide for these bottles.
However prevention and reducing new plastic bottles is better to save CO2 emissions, and pollution..
Read more about it on this page of Plasteurope.
