What are the environmental impacts of producing sparkling mineral water?

What are the main impacts?

Studies and explainers on bottled water point to the same stages. We opened two explainers and could not find a life-cycle study that isolates sparkling mineral water, so these are the general bottled-water impacts that also apply to it.

• Packaging: plastic bottles are usually PET made from fossil fuel. Extracting, refining and manufacturing it uses a lot of energy and produces greenhouse gases and pollution. Glass is reusable and recyclable but heavier.
• Water use: one explainer says making one litre of bottled water may require up to three litres. The explainer says this can worsen local water scarcity.
• Transport: bottles are heavy, and mineral waters are often shipped between countries, burning fuel and adding emissions.
• Waste: PET can be recycled, but many bottles end up in landfill or the environment, where they can take very long to break down and harm wildlife.

Does sparkling water add more impact?

Carbonation itself is a small part. The bigger factors are the bottle, the distance and the chilling. Naturally sparkling water is still bottled and shipped, the same as still.

Is glass better than plastic?

Not automatically. Glass can be reused, but it is heavy, so shipping a bottle takes more energy, and new glass production needs high heat. Reusable deposit bottles sold locally do best. This is a general comparison, not a measured result.

How does tap water compare?

Medical News Today concludes that tap water is usually the better choice: cheaper, with a much smaller environmental footprint and about as safe as bottled water. Tap water still needs chemicals and energy for treatment, so it is not zero impact.

How can you lower your impact?

• Carbonate filtered tap water at home with a reusable bottle or soda maker.
• Buy locally bottled water, in returnable bottles where offered.
• Recycle bottles and caps.
• Avoid single-use bottles for everyday drinking.

What do we not know?

We did not find a reliable current per-bottle carbon figure, so we have not quoted any. Check a producer’s own sustainability report for current data.