We need to talk about something important. It’s time to set the record straight about bottled water and the copious amount of misinformation online that could be influencing your perception of this healthy hydration drink. Bottled water isn’t the environmental villain some media stories make it out to be. Buckle up—because we’re about to serve you some facts that might just flip everything you thought you knew about eco-friendly beverage choices on its head.

Sometimes, it is what’s on the outside that matters

A comprehensive study put all those “eco-friendly” alternatives to plastic bottled water containers—glass bottles, aluminum cans, paperboard cartons, even thick plastic soda bottles—to the test. Researchers wanted to know which packaging material actually has the smallest environmental footprint when you factor in everything: production, transportation, disposal (the cradle-to-grave treatment).

The winner? That humble little plastic water bottle that’s probably sitting in your gym bag right now.

We’re talking about a container that weighs, on average, just 8.3 grams—that’s lighter than four pennies stacked together. Compare that plastic water bottle to your average soda bottle, which tips the scales at 22.2 grams, and suddenly bottled water starts looking pretty svelte. Here’s why that’s interesting. It turns out that when something weighs less, it requires fewer resources to make, less fuel to transport, and creates less waste when it’s done doing its job. (Of course, you’ll also be recycling those plastic bottles, which helps lessen its environmental footprint even more.) See the research, specifically the conclusion in section 5.2 for more.

The study also found that 16.9-ounce plastic water bottles produce the fewest greenhouse gas emissions, use the least fossil fuels, and require the least amount of water to manufacture. Sometimes the simplest hydration solution really is the best one.

There are other studies out there you can read that come to similar conclusions. This one by McKinsey & Company, this one from researchers at the University of Sheffield, this one by the National Association for PET Container Resources, and this comprehensive review of a lot of research published between 2019 and 2023. These studies show that public perceptions often differ from what research reveals. Ultimately, the science shows that plastics are the most environmentally friendly choice.

Recycling reality check

Let’s talk about what happens after you finish that bottle of water. It turns out, bottled water drinkers are actually pretty good at recycling. Research shows that plastic water bottles make up 53% of what ends up in curbside recycling programs, and nearly 70% of recycled plastic bottles in bottle return programs are water bottles.

Meanwhile, soda bottles? They only account for about 16% of recycled plastic bottles.

Even more interesting: When Keep America Beautiful researchers looked at litter patterns, they found that despite bottled water being the No.1 packaged beverage in America for the past nine years, littered liquor bottles, beer containers, sports drinks, and soda containers each outnumber discarded water bottles. It seems like water drinkers are not only concerned with their health, but also the health of the planet.

What critics don’t want to admit

Here’s what industry experts are saying, but critics don’t want to hear: Switching away from plastic packaging would be worse for the environment, not better, and the science shows that. As one expert put it, “The problem we need to solve is keeping plastics, and other trash, out of the environment,” not eliminating plastics.

Remember this: When you choose bottled water, you’re actually making a healthy and environmentally sound choice. The real work happens after you finish drinking—making sure that bottle gets recycled properly, so it can live its next life as something new and useful.

Right now, that lightweight little plastic bottle of water is doing a better job than glass, aluminum, and “paper” bottles at keeping you hydrated while also keeping its environmental impact low. So, stay hydrated, stay informed, and don’t let anyone shame you for making practical, educated choices. The planet will thank you for choosing the packaging with the least environmental impact, and your body will thank you for drinking water!