When deciding between plastic and glass bottled water, price often sways us toward plastic. However, we tend to overlook other crucial factors like taste, health risks, and environmental impact. In this article, we examine the main differences between glass and plastic bottled water to help you make a more informed decision. Additionally, we’ve highlighted the best alternatives.
Plastic vs. glass bottles
Plastic bottles
- Taste: A slight plastic taste might be noticed in water stored in plastic bottles, especially if exposed to heat.
- Health: Plastics can leach chemicals and micro-plastics into the water, which can have a negative impact on your health.
- Environmental impact: Even though plastic can be recycled, the recycling rates are low. Furthermore, plastic bottles take hundreds of years to decompose. Over time, it can break into micro-plastics, which can harm the marine life and even become part of our food. In addition, the production of plastic consumes fossil fuels, contributing to the formation of smog and acid rain.
- Cost: The low production cost of plastic bottles makes them so accessible for everyday use. One of the reasons sometimes you don’t even have other options at a grocery store.
Glass bottles
- Taste: Glass doesn’t impart flavours, preserving the taste and purity of water better.
- Health: Glass doesn’t leach chemicals into the water, as it is an inert material. Moreover, it’s unlikely for the water stored in glass bottles to get contaminated.
- Environmental impact: Besides the fact that glass is more often reused than plastic, it is also fully recyclable. Moreover, it doesn’t decompose into harmful materials. However, if the glass is not recycled, it can add up to landfill bulk. In addition, the production of glass requires more energy, which is harmful for the environment.
- Cost: The production and transportation cost of glass are more expensive than plastic. Making it a less favourable option for manufacturers and retailers.
Alternatives
Reusable water bottles
- Aluminium bottles: Highly recyclable, lightweight, and durable.
- Stainless steel bottles: Doesn’t leach chemicals, can preserve water temperature, saves money in the long run.
Water filtration systems
- Home filtration: There are few options available, such as filtered pitchers, faucet filters which attach to your tap, and under sink systems which provide a longer term solution.
- Portable filtration: Some reusable water bottles have a built-in filter, which should be replaced monthly. There are more expensive options such as LifeStraw, which offers better filtering and should be replaced every two months.
Subscription services
- Reusable glass water bottles: Some companies offer home delivery of glass bottles filled with spring or filtered water, collecting the used bottles upon delivery.
- Large water jugs: There are companies which deliver large reusable water jugs with dispensers.
Takeaway
These alternative options can reduce the reliance on plastic bottles. By adopting this change you will contribute to a better, cleaner planet for our future generations, while also improving health and saving money in the long run.
