PET-Bottled Water Consumption in View of a Circular Economy: The Case Study of Salento (South Italy)

Isabella Gambino,Federica De Leo,Francesco Bagordo,Prisco Piscitelli,Giovanni De Filippis,Biagio Galante,Benedetta Coluccia,Tiziana Grassi

doi:10.3390/su12197988

Abstract

Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) is the preferred packaging material in the bottled water industry and represents the main cause of waste production. This work investigated the drinking water consumption habits, with particular reference to PET-bottled water, of people living in the province of Lecce (Apulia Region, Southern Italy) by age and geographical groups. Their perception about the quality of tap water was also explored. The survey was performed by the administration of a questionnaire to 4137 citizens. Bottled mineral water was consumed by about the 90.4% of respondents with an average consumption of 387.7 L/year per capita (375.2 L/year in PET-bottles, 12.5 L/year in glass bottles). Public supply system was used by the 61.5% of respondents with an average consumption of 169.4 L/year per capita. The consumption of tap water was negatively related to the perception of its bad quality and the residence in a big city (Lecce); while it was positively associated with the age group ≤16 years old. Effective communications strategies must be developed in order to promote the consumption of tap water and implement good practice of circular economy.

Highlights

The most common water supply systems for human consumption are tap water and bottled water
Lifestyle changes led to the growth of the bottled water market over the last decade, with more and more glass packaging being replaced by plastic packaging [2]
The data collected by the administration of a questionnaire to 4137 citizens highlighted an annual consumption of bottled water in the Province of Lecce of 387.7 L/year per capita, mostly packaged in PET bottles for a total of 375.2 L/year per capita, while the consumption of water from public supply system was 169.4 L/year per capita

Summary

Introduction

The most common water supply systems for human consumption are tap water and bottled water. Most of the plastic produced each year is used to produce short-life packaging that quickly becomes waste that, due to the durability of polymers, degrades slowly in the environment, accumulating and destroying natural habitats around the world. These reflections indicate how the current production and consumption of plastics is unsustainable and new strategies are needed to limit their use. It is a sturdy material that is long lasting, chemically and thermally stable, and it can be recycled These traits make it suitable for many uses, such as food and beverage packaging and in particular it is useful for bottled water production [5]

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