Towards sustainable halal bottled water: integrating circular economy and qualitypreneur for small-scale producers

This chapter discusses the rationale beyond global expansion of bottled water, components of bottled water industry, and problems associated with bottled water production and consumption; energy demand; health concerns; and plastic pollution. From technology perspective, bottled water can be considered a decentralized water system which distributes water for human consumption via a portable container instead of a pipeline which is a required component for transporting water via conventional water supply infrastructure. It is concluded that the current bottled water industry is not a part of a sustainable solution for the overall challenge of providing safe drinking water worldwide. However, bottled water can be a part of an overall solution to global lack of safe drinking water and community development if innovative water treatment technologies, renewable energy use, and biodegradable plastic (or similar materials) are incorporated into bottled water production and infrastructure system design.KeywordsDecentralized water systemHealth impactsPlastic pollutionEnergy consumptionSustainability

Spatiotemporal carbon footprint analysis of bottled water production by ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis

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Background: The main objective of this study was to investigate the logics behind tendencies towards bottled drinking water usage in spite of availability of treated tap water. The amount of waste bottle is also estimated in Iran and managing principles for resolving the issue presented. Methods: A questionnaire was used to survey the logics behind tendencies toward bottled drinking water consumption among 120 participants. In order to estimate the quantities of the PET wastes produced in the country, data about bottled water production rate as well as volume of the imported and exported drinking bottled water were collected from 1962 to 2015 and applied in the calculations. Results: Findings suggested that about 0.026 to 3.86 billion liters (about 1.04 billion literson average) of bottled water was consumed annually between 2000 and 2015. Furthermore, bottled water consumption increased from 0.41 to 48.9 L/capita-year within the same time period. In the meantime, the plastic bottle waste generation rate rose from 12.84 to 1519.38 g/capita-year. There is no efficient and suitable system for managing and recycling waste bottles in the country. The perceived unreliability of tap water quality was the main reason of bottled water consumption among 74% of the respondents. Conclusion: To reduce bottled water consumption and the associated harmful environmental and health consequences, measures such as informing people, validating public water supply quality, preventive rules enactment, and establishing extended producer responsibility (EPR) are highly recommended.

Living in a society where plastic has become a necessity, the over-reliance on these materials is quite disturbing as they have social and economic effects, especially in waste disposal and resource management. Such issues have introduced the circular plastics economy (CPE), which aims to eliminate plastic waste by focusing on reducing, recycling, and reusing (3R) and designing biodegradable plastic products. Owing to these facts, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to analyze the existing literature on circular economy principles and plastic waste management systems in terms of 3R initiatives. Also, this study showcases the CPE by investigating how it is possible to manage plastic within a circular economy instead of a linear system. Additionally, system dynamics modeling (SDM) was applied to examine the inter-relationships between key elements such as plastic production, waste generation, recycling rates, and regulatory actions, along with the cognizance phase of waste diversion and advanced sorting technology to minimize landfill dependency and environmental pollution initiatives, including producer responsibility programs and zero-landfill targets. This study accumulated that zero waste strategies, such as plastic circularity, national waste management, and high-quality recycling, have achieved recycling rates ranging from 30% to 81% across various countries, significantly reducing plastic waste and enhancing resource efficiency. However, the added strategies in countries that are related to policy-driven initiatives can prospectively be useful for increasing recycling capacity to eliminate plastic waste in landfills, promoting a circular economy and sustainable waste management practices. This study also involved the critical stakeholders of the CPE who will make the utilization of plastic waste a reality. Ultimately, this research contributes to the fast-growing knowledge base on plastic waste management by presenting an interdisciplinary framework based on model synthesis and mathematical modeling, which is crucial for decision-makers, industries, and researchers.

The demand for drinking water in Cirebon City is increasing and is not proportional to the drinking water supply capacity of DWTP (PDAM) Cirebon City. So the Bottled Water Company was established, which is engaged in bottled water company, whose production rate continues to increase. The need for quality control methods to improve the quality of bottled drinking water products that can affect the quality of products consumed by the customers. Bottled Water Company applies the HACCP and EPR methods which aim to evaluate the performance of the bottled water production processing unit in planning quality control with the HACCP method, determine the quality control of bottled drinking water products to minimize negative risks to consumers with the EPR method, and compare the quality of freshly produced bottled water with products that consumers accept. Based on the analysis of existing conditions on the Bottled Water Company, the poor performance of the processing unit and the need for quality control monitoring is caused by replacing the membrane, cartridge micro filter and ozone generator, the ozone injection unit that exceeds the usage limit, poor quality of raw water pumps and back wash scheduling of carbon filter media affect the quality of production water and products. Quality control using the EPR method is carried out on the use of raw materials, production processes, finished products, product storage and distribution, sanitation and waste treatment, and product quality to consumers. Changes and decreases in product quality are due to the distance between the delivery to the store, the shipping or transportation process, the method of storage, and the length of time the product is stored.

Employee commitment to work has been an influential factor in determining job performance. In companies, especially where most wastes are by-products, health and safety factors should matter a lot to the workers. In this research, we investigated how health and safety factors influence employees' commitment to the sachet and bottled water companies. A sample size of 150 respondents was collected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were then analyzed employing multiple regression analysis. The findings suggest that employees' welfare, specific hazard, job stress and safety factors had a significant influence on employees' commitment to the job. The study also found that specific Hazard (chemicals etc) had the greatest negative influence on employees' commitment towards their work. The study implies that employers need to put in place appropriate health and safety measures to increase employees' job performance. This research appears to be the first kind in the sachet and bottled water industry, so further research should explore more into this area by looking at health and safety factors influencing employees' commitment in different industries.

Plastic waste pollution is a growing environmental and economic challenge in Africa, driven by rapid urbanization, increased plastic consumption, and inadequate waste management infrastructure. Traditional linear waste management models, characterized by “take, make, and dispose” practices, have led to significant environmental degradation and public health risks. A circular economy (CE) approach offers a sustainable alternative by promoting plastic waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, transforming waste into valuable resources. This review explores circular economy principles and their application in plastic waste management across African urban centers. Key opportunities include job creation, resource efficiency, private sector investment, and policy-driven waste management reforms. However, challenges such as weak regulatory frameworks, limited infrastructure, informal sector integration, and low public awareness hinder full adoption. The study emphasizes the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, technological innovation, and policy alignment to achieve a sustainable circular plastic economy in Africa. Keywords: Circular economy, plastic waste, waste management, sustainability, Africa, recycling, policy, innovation

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the impact of environmental management on the growth of the bottled drinking water industry (AMDK) in Indonesia, focusing on the consequences of single-use gallon sales. The bottled water industry in Indonesia has grown significantly due to the high demand for safe and practical drinking water, especially in areas with limited access to clean piped water. However, the use of plastic gallons, whether refillable or disposable, poses serious environmental and health concerns. Method: This research uses a qualitative method with normative juridical, sociological juridical, and analytical juridical approaches. Secondary data were obtained from various literature, while primary data were collected through interviews with communities around Bantargebang landfill, Bekasi. Results: The findings indicate that refillable plastic gallons have a higher risk of releasing microplastics into drinking water due to repeated use, while disposable gallons contribute significantly to plastic waste accumulation, often not being recycled properly. The study also reveals that strict regulations and public education on recycling, as practiced in countries like Japan and Germany, are essential for effective plastic waste management. Implementation: The implementation of BPOM's safety standards, including limits on Bisphenol-A (BPA) migration, is crucial to mitigating health risks. To balance industry growth and environmental sustainability, recommendations include improving environmental management practices, promoting consumer awareness, and enhancing recycling initiatives. The study provides a comprehensive view of the environmental and health impacts of using plastic gallons in the AMDK industry and suggests policy and practical measures to address these challenges.

In recent times, the consumption of bottled water has dramatically increased in Sri Lanka. However, compliance by the producers with the bottled water regulations is debatable, which poses questions about bottled water quality. This study aimed at evaluating the microbiological quality of bottled water in the Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Twenty-six brands of drinking water were collected from the Colombo district (19 locations) microbial quality was detected by checking the total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), heterotrophic bacteria, fungi and algae. The results revealed that 50 % of drinking water brands violated the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and WHO guidelines, and the Sri Lanka Health Ministry regulation (0 cfu/100 ml). Twenty-three percent of brands exceeded the limits for presumptive FC (0 cfu/100 ml in accordance with WHO guidelines, SLSI, and the Sri Lanka Health Ministry requirement). Moreover, 35% showed higher heterotrophic bacteria which exceeded the WHO guidelines (50 cfu/ml). The dominant fungi found in the bottled water were Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus sp., Trichoderma sp. and Mucor sp. Chlorella vulgaris was identified as the algal species that was present in the drinking water samples and it was 8 % of the samples checked. Additionally, the statistical analysis of water sources revealed no significant differences in the levels of fecal and total coliforms in samples across springs, tube wells, and dug wells. However, the tube wells have a significant difference in HPC and algae than dug wells and springs. The findings of this study concluded that the bottled water industry needs to be closely supervised by competent authorities to provide customers with more healthy bottled water in Sri Lanka.

The growth of the bottled drinking water industry market in Indonesia post-COVID-19 presents a significant opportunity for all bottled water producers in the country. However, Product X, as one of the products in the bottled drinking water industry in Indonesia, experienced a decline in sales and Brand Index in 2023, which is suspected to be due to calls for a boycott of Product X accompanied by news related to Bisphenol A (BPA) content in the product. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of the influence of Product Quality and Brand Hate on Non-Repurchase Intention, mediated by Negative Electronic Word of Mouth (N-EWOM). This research is quantitative with causal and descriptive analysis. Sampling was conducted by distributing questionnaires to 465 respondents, which were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the statistical software SmartPLS 3.2.9. The results of this study indicate a positive and significant relationship between Brand Hate and Non-Repurchase Intention, as well as a negative and significant relationship between Product Quality and Non-Repurchase Intention mediated by N-EWOM for Product X. The model in this study can predict the Non-Repurchase Intention of Product X consumers by 43.1%, which falls into the weak category. Based on these findings, Product X can: (1) cease activities that deviate from the ideology of Indonesian society, (2) build a good Brand Image, and (3) initiate a positive electronic word-of-mouth (EWOM) campaign on social media to rebuild its brand image.

Waste management policy goal is the circular use of resources, so the interest is to place on the market goods and materials produced and able to be recycled and reused over time. The European Union’s measures about the Circular Economy and Ecodesign are focused on the need to modify current production and consumption patterns, intervening along the lifecycle of goods, extending their useful life and increasing the recycle and reuse when they come to the end of life. Following the End of Life’s (EOL) approach the purpose of this research is to analyze bottled water industry, focusing on the circulation of primary packaging (PET bottles and HDPE caps) and to achieve this goal are proposed two methods: the Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and the Carbon Footprint (CF). MFA is used to determine the total inputs (natural and energy resources consumption) and total outputs (waste products) of PET and HDPE production, while CF is used to evaluate the environmental impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The knowledge of the materials flow, in terms of raw materials and energy resources used, as well as greenhouse gas emissions mainly associated to the quantity of goods not recycled, could make waste management system more efficient, allowing the transition from a linear economy model to a model of circular economy. Over the last twenty-five years, the annual national consumption of bottled water in Italy shows an increasing trend, reaching 12 billion L (2015), of which 9 billion L bottled in the plastic packaging and the remainder (25%) bottled in glass and cardboard. The estimates indicate that, in Italy, the packaging of bottled water sector requires much material inputs (higher material 98,000-187,000 t of PET, 6,500-14,700 t of HDPE) and energy inputs (9,000-21,000 TJ). With regard to the total amount of 105,000-201,000 t of resins used, approximately 42,000-80,000 t are recycled, 47,000-90,000 t are allocated to energy recovery and 15,000-30,000 t are disposed in landfills. The two methodologies proposed (MFA and CF) could provide valuable results for a better determination of the materials and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the reference market, to optimize also the eco-design of the packaging and to provide more complete information for a more efficient waste management to the decision makers.

Public perception of bottled drinking water as the cleanest and safest source of drinking water in the world and particularly Ghana, has led to their increasing demand though being pricey. In this study, we present the results of the health-related trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in 10 selected popular bottled drinking water brands sourced from Accra metropolis, Ghana. These include BonAqua Premium drinking water, AquaSplash purified noncarbonated drinking water, Safina natural mineral water, Bel-Aqua natural mineral water, EcoSpa natural mineral water, US drinking water, Special Ice natural mineral water, Everpure purified drinking water, Privada natural mineral water and Voltic natural mineral water. The analysis was achieved by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Arsenic field test kit. The results revealed that all the 10 selected bottled drinking water had values ranging from BDL for (As), <0.02 (Cd), <0.05 (Pb) and <0.05 (Zn). However, Cu values largely varied throughout all the samples ranging from 0.0675 (BonAqua Premium drinking water), 0.075 (AquaSplash purified noncarbonated drinking water), 0.0674 (Safina natural mineral water), 0.0731 (Bel-Aqua natural mineral water), 0.0924 (EcoSpa natural mineral water), 0.0888 (US drinking water), 0.0593 (Special Ice natural mineral water), 0.0843 (Everpure purified drinking water), 0.0954 (Privada natural mineral water) to 0.0848 (Voltic natural mineral water). Therefore, this postulates that As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn pose no health risks as they are below the World Health Organisation and Ghana Standard Board’s guidelines. We recommend that more extensive surveillance of the bottled water industry as well as stringent regulations be developed and enforced to ensure that this admirable compliance rate is maintained. Key words: Drinking water quality, Trace elements, Bottled drinking water, Ghana

A pandemic like novel coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) not only poses serious public health repercussions but also affects the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the affected countries. The increased consumption of material resources in conjunction with ‘containment and preventive measures’ is generating an unprecedented amount of potentially infectious solid waste, especially that of plastic origin, which if mismanaged, is bound to affect the ecosystem and public health, as the virus can survive on fomites for longer duration. COVID-19 related pandemic waste, such as Personal protective equipment (PPEs), sanitizer and water bottles, disinfection wipes, and Single use Plastics (SUPs) products has already found its way to the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the management of plastic waste, an environmental stressor with trans-boundary migration capabilities, was a major environmental issue for every stake-holder.In this paper, we propose a separate domain in the waste management framework for the effective management of pandemic related solid waste. Factors and sources contributing to increased plastic waste generation are discussed in detail. A concise picture of global plastic demand through sectors and polymer types is presented and speculations are made on how COVID-19 is going to affect the plastic demand. Current solid waste handling and management practices in developed and developing countries are critically examined from the perspective of this pandemic. We identified various challenges that waste management sectors are facing currently and offered possible solutions.Concerns of transmission through fomites is bringing a change in public behavior and consumption pattern which affects 3R practices, while fear of secondary transmission from occupational infections is interfering with 3R practices at end-of-life plastic waste management. The legislative and restrictive frameworks on plastic use being currently put-on hold at the governmental level to ensure public safety are being used by the plastic industry to lobby for increased plastic consumption. The inability of the governments to win public confidence is further escalating unsustainable practices and slowing the shift towards sustainable economy. It is imperative to enforce sustainable practices without putting public safety at risk and to ensure that an unsustainable societal attitude wouldn’t be reinstated in the post-pandemic world. Lastly, eight research and policy points suggested here may guide future studies and governmental frameworks in the domain of COVID-19 pandemic related solid waste handling and management.

The impacts of plastics’ life cycle