Manufacturing Cost of a Water Bottle
The manufacturing cost for a single-use plastic water bottle ranges from $0.005 to $0.01 per bottle. The water itself accounts for less than $0.00001. Startup costs for a water bottling plant begin around $750,000.
True Cost of a Water Bottle
The retail price of a water bottle does not account for the true cost of manufacturing, marketing, transportation, and disposal. If we consider these additional costs, the actual price per bottle is much higher. It is important to be mindful of the true cost of items we consume regularly, and take action to reduce our environmental footprint.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Bottles
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It takes about 17 million barrels of oil annually to produce the plastic water bottles consumed in the United States alone, which is enough to fuel more than 1 million cars for a year.
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Right from the start, glass has a cost disadvantage compared to plastic: glass is more expensive to produce.
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An average plastic bottle costs around $1, but can be almost $3 depending on where you purchase it. Although plastic bottles are cheaper per bottle, they are much more expensive in the long run.