PET Plastic Water Bottles June 2014

PET PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

PET plastic is the main packaging material used for soft drinks. In the UK, almost 95%1 of bottled water found on supermarket shelves is packaged in PET plastic, with the remainder being sold in glass or cans.

This fact sheet looks at why PET is used for containing naturally sourced water as well as addressing a few common misunderstandings about it.

PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate. It is one of the safest plastics for storing soft drinks and has a number of attributes that make it perfect for bottled water:

1 PET BOTTLES ARE ROBUST

PET is a strong plastic which is virtually unbreakable and does not shatter if it does happen to break.

This makes it an excellent choice for bottled water as it is completely safe for carrying whilst you are on-the-go or participating in sporting activities.

2 PET BOTTLES ARE LIGHTWEIGHT

Bottled water producers are constantly working to ‘lightweight’ their bottles to ensure the minimal amount of plastic is used and the bottle is easy to carry when you are out-and-about. In 2013, the Natural Hydration Council (NHC) surveyed its members and found out they have reduced the amount of plastic in their bottles by an average of 12% since 2008.

3 PET BOTTLES ARE 100% RECYCLABLE

PET bottles are 100% recyclable and almost all local authorities in the UK accept plastic bottles as part of the household collection scheme2. Where local authorities do not

collect plastics, the bottles can be taken to a local household waste and recycling centre. They can also be recycled in recycling bins in town centres and shopping centres.

The latest survey results from Recoup3 showed that in 2012, over half (58%) of plastic bottles (mainly PET or HDPE) entering the household waste were collected for recycling. In comparison, 37% of ridged plastic packaging and 19% for pots, tubs and trays were collected for recycling during the same period.

Hydration and ExErcisE

Natural Hydration Council

Natural Hydration CouncilYou ought to drink more water

If you are starting to feel inspired to participate in sporting activities, it is important to remember to keep well hydrated. This is especially the case during the summer months and in warm environments, for example in hotter climates, poorly ventilated gyms or sports halls. Drinking water before, during and after exercise helps us to work out more efficiently and for longer, and while sports drinks have a role to play, particularly for elite level endurance athletes, they are often used inappropriately by the rest of us as recreational drinks, which adds unnecessary calorific intake to our diet.

This factsheet explains why staying well hydrated is important for active individuals and how this can be best achieved.

Physical and cognitive performance can suffer when we are poorly hydrated, especially in hot, humid conditions or when exercise is prolonged1. Some of the side-effects linked with a poor hydration status during exercise include:

Source: Adapted from Maughan et al. (2007)2

Recent studies have shown that for people carrying out prolonged exercise a 2% loss of body mass, i.e. 1.4kg for a 70kg adult, can result in around a 20% decrease in performance levels in temperate climate and up to a 40% decrease in hot temperatures3.

An easy way to monitor changes in hydration status is to check the colour of your urine4. It should be pale straw colour, anything darker and more fluid is needed.

WHy is Hydration important?

Hydration and Exercise Feb 2013

▲ risk of heat illness

▲ heart rate

▲ feelings of effort

▼ performance

▼ mental function

▼ ability to regulate body temperature

▼ development of headaches, nausea

100%

1 Zenith International, UK Bottled Water Report, April 20142 Recoup UK Household Plastics Collection Survey, 20133 Recoup UK Household Plastics Collection Survey, 2013

PET Plastic Water Bottles June 2014

‘WATER’ LOT OF CONFUSION!

4 PET BOTTLES PROTECT THE QUALITY OF NATURALLY SOURCED WATER

Over 90% of bottled water sold in this country is either natural mineral or spring water4. These naturally sourced waters are perfectly drinkable from source, meaning they don’t need any chemical treatment. The water comes from a protected underground source and is bottled. The PET container ensures the water is carefully safeguarded right up until you drink it.

5 PET BOTTLES ARE TRANSPARENT

PET allows for the content of the bottle to remain visible, letting people see the quality product inside the container. This is clearly why it is great for bottled water!

4 Zenith International, UK Bottled Water Report, April 2014

There are a number of misunderstandings about PET plastic and bottled water. PET is completely safe and complies with all European and national legal requirements. Here are some common myths explained:

MYTH: THERE IS BISPHENOL A (BPA) IN PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

Fact: There is no BPA in PET plastic.

You can check whether a plastic container is BPA free, as plastic containers are marked with recycle codes. Any plastics with recycle code 1,2,4,5 or 6 are BPA free. PET plastic is recycle code 1. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.

MYTH: DRINKING BOTTLED WATER THAT’S BEEN LEFT IN A CAR CAN GIVE YOU CANCER

Fact: There are no carcinogens in PET plastic.

It is a myth that plastic water bottles left in cars will leach carcinogens into the water. A health scare began in 2002 when a Japanese television programme broadcast a theory that plastic water bottles were unsafe. These claims have since been discredited by Cancer Research UK†.

MYTH: FREEZING PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES CAN RELEASE CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS INTO THE WATER WHEN IT DEFROSTS

Fact: There are no carcinogens in PET plastic.

Again, this is a health scare which was started by the Japanese television programme which led to a group of hoax emails that have been doing the rounds online and have been discredited by Cancer Research UK.

MYTH: PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES CAN’T BE RECYCLED

Fact: PET water bottles are 100% recyclable.

All bottled water found on supermarket shelves can be recycled. This includes the cap and label. For more information about plastic bottle recycling visit recyclenow.com

† Source: www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/ healthyliving/cancercontroversies/Plasticbottles/

PET Plastic Water Bottles June 2014

MYTH: ALL BOTTLED WATER IS JUST TAP WATER IN A BOTTLE

Fact: Over 90% of bottled water sold in this country is either natural mineral or spring water*.

Both natural mineral water and spring water must:

• Originate from a natural, protected and specific underground source

• Be bottled at source

• Be microbiologically safe to drink without treatment

“Bottled drinking water”, sometimes known as “Table Water” or “Purified water”, is drinking water which is bottled and is neither spring water nor natural mineral water. It can come from a variety of sources, including municipal supplies†.

ABOUT THE NHC

The Natural Hydration Council is a not for profit organisation dedicated to researching the science and communicating the facts about healthy hydration.

Founded in 2008, the organisation is guided by a Scientific Panel to help them communicate how good hydration habits can positively impact the nation’s health.

Their eight members; Brecon Carreg Natural Mineral Water, Danone Waters (UK & Ireland) Ltd, Highland Spring Group, Iceni Waters, Nestlé Waters UK, Ty Nant, Water Brands Group and Wenlock Spring, are all producers of naturally sourced bottled water and represent approximately 50% of the UK bottled water industry*.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Natural Hydration Council Studio 3, 5–11 Westbourne Grove London W2 4UA www.naturalhydrationcouncil.org.uk

Hydration and ExErcisE

Natural Hydration Council

Natural Hydration CouncilYou ought to drink more water

If you are starting to feel inspired to participate in sporting activities, it is important to remember to keep well hydrated. This is especially the case during the summer months and in warm environments, for example in hotter climates, poorly ventilated gyms or sports halls. Drinking water before, during and after exercise helps us to work out more efficiently and for longer, and while sports drinks have a role to play, particularly for elite level endurance athletes, they are often used inappropriately by the rest of us as recreational drinks, which adds unnecessary calorific intake to our diet.

This factsheet explains why staying well hydrated is important for active individuals and how this can be best achieved.

Physical and cognitive performance can suffer when we are poorly hydrated, especially in hot, humid conditions or when exercise is prolonged1. Some of the side-effects linked with a poor hydration status during exercise include:

Source: Adapted from Maughan et al. (2007)2

Recent studies have shown that for people carrying out prolonged exercise a 2% loss of body mass, i.e. 1.4kg for a 70kg adult, can result in around a 20% decrease in performance levels in temperate climate and up to a 40% decrease in hot temperatures3.

An easy way to monitor changes in hydration status is to check the colour of your urine4. It should be pale straw colour, anything darker and more fluid is needed.

WHy is Hydration important?

Hydration and Exercise Feb 2013

▲ risk of heat illness

▲ heart rate

▲ feelings of effort

▼ performance

▼ mental function

▼ ability to regulate body temperature

▼ development of headaches, nausea

‘WATER’ LOT OF CONFUSION! continued

* Source: Zenith International UK Bottled Water Report, April 2014

† Source: The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 2007