Tackling the UK's Single-Use Plastic Problem

Tackling the UK’s Single-Use Plastic Problem

Did you know that every day in the UK, 10 million single-use plastic water bottles are sold ? Not to mention that less than half of these bottles are recycled, leaving most to pollute our streets, rivers, and oceans. At BRITA, we support the UK government’s ambition to become a zero-waste economy by 2050, and we are committed to playing our part in tackling plastic pollution and promoting circularity by creating a mainstream culture of refill and reuse. To achieve this, we need the Government to improve public access to water across the country – making it easier for everyone to Reach for the Reusable option.

Impact In Numbers

Person pouring BRITA filtered water with BRITA water dispenser into BRITA filtered water bottle

Single-use plastic bottles take

five seconds to make, five minutes to use, and 500 years to break down.

70% of adults say

they would be happy to reach for a reusable bottle instead of buying single-use water bottles if it was easier to refill in public spaces.

Over 80% of the rubbish found in our oceans is plastic

and plastic bottles are the second most commonly found item.

Every year

3.5 billion bottles of water are sold in the UK.

BRITA Active Bottle in front of LTA tennis banner

Single-Use Plastics in Sport: BRITA x LTA Partnership

In 2024, BRITA partnered with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to eliminate single-use plastic bottles across major British tennis events. By installing refill stations courtside, in lounges, and public areas, we made it easier for citizens to reach for the reusable.

The results? Over 110,800 litres of water dispensed, and more than 220,000 plastic bottles eliminated. But we’re not stopping there – we know there is much more to do.

Woman drinking water from new BRITA Vutal water filter bottle

The Road to Boosting Public Water Access

With the ultimate aim of tackling the plastic pollution crisis and striving for a plastic-free future, our whitepaper Boosting Public Water Access for a Plastic Free Future, highlights the pivotal role of policymakers, local authorities, and private sector partnerships in increasing public access to water.

This paper sets out some of the great work already being done across the country, and outlines BRITA’s policy asks to Government in supporting the UK’s transition to a circular and waste-free future.

We hope that these policy proposals inspire change at a local and national level to make it easier for citizens to Reach for the Reusable.