Do you know that 7 litres of water are required to generate only a 1-litre bottle of water? And that this bottle travels thousands of miles to reach the consumer?
Buying a bottle of water is an easy drink choice, but if you read on the life journey of a bottle you’ll most probably be unpleasantly surprised!
Billions of Plastic Bottles Are Produced
Natural gas and crude oil (from petroleum) are extracted from the deep ground and then transported to a refining unit; also known as chemical processing plant, which generates PET Pellets (scientifically named as Polyethylene Terephthalate) through a complex procedure. These micro pellets are then heated, melted and then bottles are produced in all shapes and types using a blow-molding technology.
Some types of plastic bottles are designed to be soft/ flexible, whereas others are made to be tougher. Every bottle production factory requires a huge amount of energy and water to produce clear commercial bottles. Additional materials such as paper, thin plastics and ink are also required for the bottles’ labels and packaging.
In addition to the 7 litres (of water) necessary to produce a single bottle of water, the amount of water that actually ends up inside the bottle has had to travel for a long journey from its natural origin. This may include ship or truck carriers, which emits toxic carbon fumes.
Plastic Bottles Are Worldwide Champions
By the time the bottle is filled with water, labelled and placed on its shelf, it then takes off on its journey to its final destination before reaching the hand of customers, whether it’s a mini market, supermarket, café or a vending machine.
The approximate distance a bottle of water travels varies based on the brand/company you’re purchasing it from. A bottle of Fiji, for example, has a journey of thousands of miles to reach stores in the U.S or Europe—likewise. A bottle of Evian may be carried through a cargo ship from France to the opposite corner of the globe e.g Australia. Needless to say that the cost of these procedures is tremendously high, and is the reason why you end up paying100X the price of its counterpart regular tap water.
Plastic’s longevity
By the time you finally sip some water, the bottle you hold in your hands would have travelled through multiple spots across the globe, yet you might be surprised to know that its journey has just started.
Fortunately, a portion of plastic bottles may end up in a sorting unit, where they go through a recycling and conversion process into other types of plastic products. However, most will be dumped in a landfill and left for 450 to 1K years to decompose naturally.
If we take into account the fact that 70 billion gallons of water bottles are purchased every single year, the image of the piles of plastic is quite horrific.
So, are there any alternative choices to bottled water?
People fancy purchasing bottled water for its taste and convenience, but luckily the alternative is much more convenient, and the water quality isn’t any less, if not even better!
By installing a water filtration system at home or in your office, you can purify the composition of water without the need for perishable plastic bottles. Not only will you trim down cost but also the long-term toxic effect of using disposable plastic bottles.
Reusable plastic/ glass bottles are a healthy option you’ll enjoy, especially the ones with infusers, to add a zesty citrus taste or fruity delight.
One thing to take into account is that not all water filtration/purification systems are deemed equal. Some are bulky, require a lot of space, and don’t blend with our modern energy-savvy homes.This is the reason why we have created Soft water Filtration and Purification Systems with compact and modern designs to save you money and time and generate a continuous supply of optimum quality, crystal clear, refreshing water that you can trust, for you and your loved ones.