Every day, the UK churns through 10 million single-use plastic bottles, despite having some of the best tap water in the world.
What if we could eliminate this reliance on single-use plastic simply by making public access to drinking water more convenient? Our recent white paper, boosting public water access for a plastic-free future lays out a compelling case for boosting water refill points across the UK.
By increasing public access to drinking water, we can significantly cut down on plastic waste and encourage more people to carry and use reusable bottles.
Why public water access matters
Plastic pollution is an undeniable crisis. Littering our streets, suffocating our oceans, and even creeping into our food. Plastic bottles are among the worst offenders, yet only 17% of the UK’s plastic waste is actually recycled.
The good news is our polling shows that 70% of UK adults would happily use a reusable bottle if refilling was more convenient. The bad news is that without a functional infrastructure of drinking fountains, choosing reusable alternatives remains an uphill battle.
Climate change is making this an even more pressing issue
The need for public drinking water access isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s a climate adaptation necessity. The UK recorded its first-ever 40°C heatwave in 2022, and experts predict that by 2050, such extreme summers will become the norm.
This makes it even more critical for cities to provide free, accessible drinking water to keep people safe and hydrated without resorting to single-use plastics.
Despite this, the UK ranks 53rd in the world for the number of public water fountains, with just 2.08 fountains per 100,000 people. That’s a major gap that needs urgent attention.
Our call to action
The right infrastructure must be in place to allow consumers to reach for reusables. In our recent white paper, we take a look at some of the great work already being done across the country and outline suggested key initiatives and policy changes that would allow for a plastic-free future to become a reality.
Firstly, water companies need to step up to the plate
A shining example of this strategy in action is the partnership between Thames Water and the Mayor of London. Since 2018, they’ve installed over 110 public water fountains, making free drinking water readily available across the city. So far, these fountains have dispensed 2.8 million litres of water, preventing the need for around 5.6 million single-use plastic bottles.
Secondly, we need wider private-sector collaboration
Take BRITA’s long-standing partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) as an example. This initiative prevented the use of over 220,000 single-use plastic bottles last year alone.
Be part of the solution
If we want to build a zero-waste, plastic-free future, we must act now. Whether you're a policymaker, business leader, or an everyday consumer, you can help drive this shift by supporting initiatives that increase public access to drinking water and encourage reuse.
BRITA’s white paper is just the beginning. Now is the time to turn insight into action.
Get in touch to join us on our mission to make reusable culture mainstream.
Download our white paper to learn more now
