About Plastic Water Bottles

Bottled water is a nearly $12 billion industry in the U.S. alone. It is chosen for its convenience, taste, and sometimes, necessity. Water bottles are made from a plastic called PET, or polyethylene terephthalate. There are some concerns over how much PET is absorbed by the drinker, but it has been approved by the FDA for use in beverage bottling. The amount of waste created by the bottles is also a concern to many. Plastic water bottles made from PET can be recycled and over one-third are recycled in the U.S.

Plastic

• Plastic water bottles are made from a plastic called PET, polyethylene terephthalate. PET starts as a resin and is blow-molded into the desired bottle shape. Before filling, it is cleaned and sanitized according to standards set by FDA.

  PET is the material of choice for water bottles and soda bottles because it can be transparent, shatterproof and impermeable to gas and liquid (it holds water and your soda won't go flat).

Benefits

• Plastic water bottles are portable, sanitary and shatterproof.

  Bottled water is used for convenience, preference and necessity. The portable, shatterproof container makes it easy to take and store anywhere. The taste is sometimes preferable to city tap water and well water. Many perceive it to be cleaner, though this is debated.

  For some, bottled water is more than convenient. When clean water is unavailable or a water supply is tainted, bottled water is a necessity. The water supply can become contaminated during natural disasters like hurricanes and floods or during a water main break. During these times, bottled water can save lives.

Industry

• Bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the U.S., after soft drinks. According to an article in USA Today, 30 billion plastic water bottles were sold in 2005 in the U.S. alone. The bottled water industry has sales of than $11.7 billion annually and is still growing strong.

Recycling

• Plastic water bottles can be recycled and used to manufacture other goods.

  Though many are concerned about the impact that millions of plastic bottles have on the environment, it seems unlikely that everyone will stop using them. Bottled water is a convenience to some but a necessity for others in need of clean water.

  Recycling of PET bottles is around 37 percent in the U.S., according to the EPA. Recycled PET bottles go through a sorting and cleaning process, then are ground into flakes and, lastly, into pellets. Most recycled PET is used for fibers for textiles and carpet, but new markets in the future may include clothing and corrugated paper.

Safety

• The FDA regulates bottled water and approves PET for bottling. The FDA also sets manufacturing practices for the bottled water industry to ensure that water comes from protected water sources and is bottled under sanitary conditions using quality control procedures, and that the final products are sampled and tested for contamination.

  There are some fears that some of the PET in water bottles leaks into the water and is absorbed by the drinker. Testing has been performed on both sides of this issue.

  Yet another fear involves the reuse of plastic water bottles. These concerns regard the growth of bacteria and leakage of PET into the water as the plastic breaks down from repeated use. The PET issue is debated on both sides, but health officials and the plastics industry agree that reused bottles should be washed regularly and thoroughly.