Plastic-Bottle Facts
Disposable plastic bottles (polyethylene terephthalate--PET) used for soft drinks and water, and molded-type plastic bottles (high-density polyethylene--HDPE) used for milk, detergents and motor oils have become an environmental concern. Reusable plastic bottles (polycarbonate) used primarily for sports bottles and baby bottles have been cited for potential health-safety concerns.
The Water Spin
The bottled-water industry has done an excellent job of convincing consumers that bottled water is purer and healthier than tap. Some major cities have gone on a crusade to promote the purity of their municipal water supplies and encourage residents to eliminate bottled water from their shopping lists. In Babylon, New York, single-serve water bottles from vending machines have been eliminated; free reusable bottles are offered to residents instead. Some colleges and high schools have even banned the sale of water bottles on campus. In the Feb. 19, 2009, issue of "Environmental Research Letters," researchers concluded the energy cost of bottled water is nearly 2,000 times that of tap water.
Safety Concerns
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate sports bottles and baby bottles. In the September 2009 issue of "Environmental Health Perspectives," researchers state low-level concentrations of BPA could possibly cause endocrine disruption, thereby interfering with natural hormone balance and function. They concluded in their study that subjects using polycarbonate bottles for a week showed substantial increase in urinary BPA concentrations. The Food and Drug Administration ruled in 2008 that trace amounts of BPA were not dangerous, but in June 2009, it announced it is re-examining that conclusion. Canada banned BPA in the production of baby bottles in 2008.
Environmentally Unsound
The bulk of plastic bottles ends up in landfills, where it is estimated it takes 700 years to begin composting. Producing and transporting this product requires a tremendous amount of fossil fuel. The Pacific Institute, an environmental research organization, estimates that it takes more than 17 million barrels of oil annually to produce single-use plastic bottles. Three tons of carbon dioxide emissions are created with every ton of PET products produced.
Recycling
Some 24 percent of plastic bottles are recycled, from which a multitude of other products are produced. Carpeting, clothing, insulation and outdoor decking are but a few of these items. In addition, two thirds less energy is used when new plastic products are produced from recycled plastic. Interestingly, recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to keep a 60-watt bulb lit for hours.
The bulk of recyclable plastic products are labeled with a number one through seven, to indicate the type of plastic used. Those that pose the greatest health risks are 3, 6 and 7.
History
HDPE (molded) bottles began replacing other types of containers such as glass and metal in the 1970s. The PET (disposable) bottle was developed in 1941, but was not really used for beverages until the 1970s. It was Nathaniel C. Wyeth, engineer for DuPont and the son of renowned artist N.C. Wyeth, who developed a new molding technique to produce a flexible lightweight PET bottle in 1973, the one used today for most beverages and water.
