Drinking From Plastic Bottles
Water and other soft drinks are almost always packaged in a type of plastic bottle made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), whereas milk is usually packaged in bottles made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Plastic bottles are safe to drink from and safe to reuse if they are kept clean.
Why are drinks generally sold in plastic bottles?
- They provide consumers with a convenient, safe, lightweight method of packaging for drinks when travelling or for use at home.
- Plastics do not easily break or shatter, providing safety for the consumer and minimising the risk of liquids being lost or contaminated during transportation.
- Plastic bottles are far lighter, reducing the cost of transportation as well as overall CO2 emissions.
- Plastic uses very little energy in its production compared to alternatives.
- Bottled water is essential in many emergency situations and is often the only source of drinking water during natural disasters.
- Technological advances and improved designs mean that less and less material is necessary.
Based on the evidence, the BPF believes:
Plastic bottles provide brands and consumers with a product that is lightweight, convenient and hygienic. All packaging that comes into contact with food and drink is subject to strict regulations and the safety of consumers is of utmost importance.
- Plastic bottles are the material of choice for packaging soft drinks because they are light, robust and safe.
- The term ‘single-use’ bottle, as often cited in the press, can be misleading: PET bottles themselves, for example, can be safely reused if kept in a hygienic state, with absolutely no risk to consumer health. Some PET bottles are even designed specifically with reuse in mind.
- Over the years there have been repeated claims in the media that drinking from water bottles exposes a person to the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA). When BPA is present in some plastic products, it is in extremely low, safe amounts. However, it should be noted that there is no BPA used in the manufacture of PET or HDPE bottles at all.
- All PET and HDPE bottles are highly recyclable. 74% of beverage bottles are recycled, with recycling rates constantly improving [1]. Once PET and HDPE bottles are recycled, they may end up in a range of products including new bottles, other packaging products or even in clothes, trainers or durable products such as a park bench.
- Constant innovation means that plastic bottles require less and less material to produce and recycled content continues to increase.
Useful links
Sources
1. Valpak Databite No3: https://www.valpak.co.uk/docs/default-source/information-zone/databite-no-3---drinks-container-recycling-rates.pdf
Published 24 May 2019
Reviewed January 2024
Reviewed February 2025
