We see plastic bottles everywhere, the majority of which can be found in the trash. You may be done with it, but the bottle still has a long way to go before reaching it’s final resting place. Bottled water companies spend millions each year on advertising and Americans purchase an increasing number of plastic bottles each year. It may seem like a simple transaction: buy, drink, dispose – but plastic bottles have a long journey before you ever take a sip.
Birth of a Bottle
Plastic bottles are created by treating crude oil and natural gas. Most plastic bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. To fill the demand for plastic bottles in the United States, we use 17.6 million barrels of oil annually, not including the oil used to transport the product. Bottled water companies buy chemically treated pellets which are then heated and shaped into plastic bottles. The bottles are then filled, packaged and packed on a truck for delivery.
Shelf Life
During the trip to the store the plastic bottles have managed to appreciate in value by about 2000%. The plastic bottle and water, which cost cents to produce will then be sold for $4, $5, or more and disposed of. Hopefully the bottle will be recycled, however this map showing the percentage of recycled material displays just how little is properly disposed of. The vast majority of plastic bottles are thrown in the trash rather than recycled, leaving two options for the future of your plastic bottle.
Recycling
Ideally, this is where all plastic bottles should go. Nationally, however, only 30% of bottles end up being recycled. Plastic that is recycled gets sterilized, shredded, and then sold back to companies to be re-used. The shredded plastics are used for more bottles, plastic bags, and most end up used in clothing or fabrics. Some innovators are finding unique ways to utilize recycled plastics, so be sure that you know exactly what and when to recycle in Boston.
Death/Afterlife
The vast majority or plastic bottles are sent to landfills or end up in the ocean. It takes plastic bottles hundreds of years to degrade, and if these plastics end up in a densely packed landfill the process can take even longer. As we have already seen, millions of plastic bottles each year end up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The degrading bottles destroy wreak havoc on ocean ecosystems and sea animals.
It’s easy to forget that plastic bottles are around a lot longer than it takes us to buy, drink, and toss them. Recycling is an excellent step but not enough to save our environment. We all must stop using PET plastic bottles and switch to reusable, eco-friendly alternatives. Each plastic bottle you use will be on the planet long after you’re gone.
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Recently BPA, a chemical used in plastic bottles, has been linked to another health problem in humans. BPA has a long list of negatives but continues to be used in plastic bottles because the chemical is so cheap. Most recently BPA has been showed to cause thinning arteries, which can lead to heart attacks. We took a look at some of the problems that BPA has been found to cause:
Narrow Arteries
A recent study at The University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter found an association between high BPA levels in the blood and severe coronary artery stenosis, the medical name for narrow arteries. The more stenosis an artery has, the more likely it is to become blocked. Blocked arteries lead to chest pain, tightness, and eventually heart attacks. Researchers concluded that exposure to BPA contributes to heart disease. Many people with heart disease unknowingly put their health at risk every time they use a plastic bottle.
Developmental Problems
The most concerning BPA related problems have to do with their impact on childhood growth and development. BPA was banned from baby bottles and other children’s products earlier this year amid health concerns. BPA has been linked to reduced fetal and newborn development, and wheezing in children among other problems.
Time Magazine recently put out a piece explaining that while BPA is banned from bottles and cups, the chemical is still abundant in children’s toys and apparel. This means that children are still being exposed to the potentially deadly chemical everyday, often without even realizing it. With all of the health concerns associated with BPA, it’s time to completely eliminate the use of the chemical in children’s products.
Lingering Problems
BPA has been proven to have serious medical concerns in animal testing and in human interaction. Exposure to BPA has been linked to cause everything from neurological problems to reproductive disorders in adults. We found a list of every side effect associated with BPA; its stunning how a chemical can continue to be used when it is known to cause so many health problems.
Take Action
There are a few easy ways to limit your BPA intake:
Always choose fresh food over processed, bulk buy products
When bottled water first hit American shelves, it made an impact almost immediately. In 1976, Americans were only drinking 1.6 gallons per person, by 2002 it was up to 18.2 gallons, and now we’re averaging a colossal 29.2 gallons per person-more than beer or milk.
So why the dramatic increase in bottled water consumption? As far as we know water didn’t become any more pure or refreshing over the years. However, what we do know is that advertisers have spent sickly amounts of money to convince consumers that bottled water is good for the environment, healthier than tap water, and worth your money.
We took a look at some commercials and broke down some of the best bottled water scams strategies for making a splash.
Make it “natural”
Poland Spring’s “Born Better” tagline is an example of the most common strategy for selling bottled water. You show some panoramic shots of waterfalls, maybe some people kayaking, and imply that your bottled water is naturally better and more healthy than any other brand. Every bottled water source is “pristine” or “untouched” by man…and then bottled, shipped, and sold. Of course, nothing is more natural than an international corporation invading and taking resources from a local community. See how natural your tap water is by visiting by requesting our Free water quality analysis.
Make it “Eco-Friendly”
As more and more negative press surfaces against bottled water companies, the new strategy is to focus on how environmentally conscious your product is. Dasani’s “Plant Bottle” commercial has the Earth, some pure water, a plant growing… these are all images to link bottled water to nature and convey a positive environmental image. The bottle is 30% plant material, but that will make no difference when the majority of the bottles end up in landfills, the ocean, and other places they don’t belong. Massachusetts company Corporate Accountability International has been battling bottled water corporations for years, and you can help join in the fight.
Make it “fun”
A minute-long spot for Aquafina water equates the product to alcohol and implies the wild (yet refined) times that you will have consuming their specific brand of water. Everybody’s having a good time, you can party with your friends, show a little cleavage, and dance with a fish. You might even get thrown out of a window! Aquafina doesn’t bother talking about nature or filtration, but rather treats water like beer and shows a wild party. The tagline “The more water you drink, the better you feel” is a great way to sell bottles. Plus, you want to have as much fun as the people in the commercial, right?
Get a Celebrity/Famous Song
Or both. Smartwater is smart (the water itself is smart apparently?). They have fully embraced the “internet culture” of today and create a “smart”, “edgy” commercial for their product featuring Jennifer Aniston. The commercial features internet references, humor, puppies; anything to show how clever and funny and ahead of the game Smartwater is. Over two million views, almost three minutes long, and they only actually talk about the product for a few seconds. Smart Advertising.
Its no secret that bottled water companies are masters of marketing; you’ve got to be crafty when you’re trying to sell a product at a 2000% markup. Bottled water companies spend millions of dollars each year to advertise their product as “pure” and make tap water seem unhealthy. The fact is that most bottled water is filtered tap water, and municipal water is usually more regulated.
Bottled water companies care more about buzzwords and endorsements than water quality. When marketing and profits come before integrity and ethics a company cannot be trusted. Take a look at some big bottled water blunders:
Nestle Sued
Nestle, the world’s biggest food brand, markets a “100% natural spring water” called Ice Mountain Water. The spring water is actually tap water, and now Nestle is facing legal action for misrepresenting their product. Nestle’s decision to lie about their product shows that they clearly do not respect their customers.
This is the second time that Nestle has faced claims of false labeling in the last decade. This latest offence comes during a year where Nestle has made $6.07 billion and announced growth within North American markets. It is clear that for Nestle, money comes before water quality and the truth.
Lady Agua?
There have been a number of celebrities to endorse bottled water over the years, and Jenifer Aniston is still the face of Smart Water. Last year UNICEF used star power to raise money by offering Celebrity Water. Celebrities like Rihanna and Dwight Howard gave up bottled water and lent their likeness to reusable bottles for charity. UNICEF used the same advertising strategy as bottled water companies for a positive purpose.
Recently it was revealed that Lady Gaga is planning to launch her own brand of bottled water. Her bottled water plan has apparently been in the works for some tie, and is going to be a “healthy drinking water brand”. We can only hope that her socially conscious reputation leads to an environmentally-friendly product.
With all those fans and a charismatic spokesperson, this seems like a smart business move. Rather than sign a deal with a water company, Lady Gaga made her own and retained control. Bottled water companies had better hope more celebrities don’t try this.
The Value of Marketing
It has become clear that water quality is not the top priority for bottled water companies. Bottled water companies pump more and more into advertising each year, and each year more water is sold.
When companies are allowed to lie about their products it is dangerous for consumers. No matter who tells you to buy water, the only way to guarantee your water quality is by installing a home filtration system. Don’t let marketing trick you into thinking otherwise.by checking your home water quality and using a BPA-free reusable bottle, like our BeCause Water Stainless Steel bottle.
