According to a recent study done by the Pacific Institute, which conducts interdisciplinary research on three main programs of research: Water, Community Strategies for Sustainability and Justice, and Globalization,  bottled water requires almost 2,000 times as much energy to produce than comparable amounts of regular tap water. The study also covers the transportation costs of bottled water, and how much energy this consumes up and above normal bottled water production. This study furthers the growing realization of just how terrible the culture of bottled water has become, and highlights the disastrous consequences on the environment.

Americans purchase close to 30 billion bottles of water a year. Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. According to Food and Water Watch, the manufacturing of that plastic requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce, and pumps 3 tons of carbon dioxide into the air. While the plastic used to bottle beverages is of very high quality and in demand by recyclers, over 80 percent of plastic bottles are just thrown away.

There’s a simple alternative to bottled water: Use a stainless steel thermos. Don’t like the way your local tap water tastes? Inexpensive carbon filters will turn most tap water sparkling fresh at a fraction of bottled water’s cost, which costs more per gallon than gasoline. If you don’t give up your plastic disposable water bottles for the environment, then at least do it as a response to the collapsing economy.