A recent analysis performed by the Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) for the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) shows that over the past eight years the average gram weight of the 16.9 ounce “single serve” bottled water container has dropped by 32.6 percent. The average PET bottled water container weighed 18.9 grams in 2000 and by 2008, the average amount of PET resin in each bottle has declined to 12.7 grams.

BMC estimated that during this time span, more than 1.3 billion pounds of PET resin has been saved by the bottled water industry through container light-weighting. In 2008 alone, the bottled water industry saved 445 million pounds of PET plastic by reducing the weight of its plastic bottles. IBWA also recently commissioned a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) study to determine the environmental footprint of the U.S. bottled water industry. Franklin Associates, a division of ERG, produced the LCI and prepared a report that quantified the energy requirements, solid waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions for the production, packaging, transport and end-of-life management for bottled water consumed in the United States in 2007.

The results indicate that bottled water has a very small environmental footprint.

The study found:

• Measurement based on British Thermal Units (BTUs) indicates that the energy consumed to produce small pack bottled water containers (containers from 8 ounces to 2.5 gallons) amounted to only 0.067 percent of the total energy use in the United States in 2007. Home and Office Delivery (HOD) bottled water (reusable bottles from 2.5 to 5 gallons) energy consumption only amounted to 0.003 percent of the total energy used.

• The small pack and HOD bottled water industries’ combined greenhouse gas/CO₂ emissions amounted to only 0.08 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

• Bottled water packaging discards accounted for only 0.64 percent of the 169 million tons of total U.S. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) discards.

• The process and transportation BTU energy use for the bottled water industry was only 0.07 percent of total U.S. BTU primary energy consumption.

• Greenhouse gas emissions per half gallon of single serve bottled water came to 426.4 grams CO₂ equivalent (eq.), which is 75 percent less CO₂ eq. per half gallon than orange juice.

• Small pack bottled water generates 46 percent less CO₂ eq. when compared to soft drinks also packaged in PET plastic.

In November 2009, IBWA reported the national recycling rate for PET plastic bottled water containers (.5 liter or 16.9 ounce size) now stands at a record 30.9 percent for 2008, a year-over-year improvement of 32 percent from 2007 rates.

Over the last several years, the bottled water industry has demonstrated solid environmental leadership when it comes to water conservation and efficiency. The bottled water industry uses minimal amounts of groundwater to produce an important, healthy and calorie-free consumer product — and does so with great efficiency. In the U.S., bottled water production accounts for less than 0.02 percent of the total groundwater withdrawn each year.

In addition, bottled water companies actively support comprehensive groundwater management policies that are science-based, multi-jurisdictional, treat all users equitably and provide for future needs of this important resource. The bottled water industry also supports a strong and adequately funded municipal water infrastructure. Nearly all U.S. consumers and industries rely on tap water and every taxpayer and every industry must help ensure that supplies of water from municipal systems are safe and plentiful in the years ahead.

The bottled water industry’s momentum toward more recycling and container light-weighting can be seen as quickly going in the right direction. These are sure signs of improvement but it is no time to rest on our laurels. Far more needs to be done with all plastic products and containers.