PET-Bottled Water Consumption in View of a Circular Economy: The Case Study of Salento (South Italy)

Isabella Gambino, Francesco Bagordo, Benedetta Coluccia, Tiziana Grassi, Giovanni De Filippis, Prisco Piscitelli, Biagio Galante and Federica De Leo
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Isabella Gambino: Laboratory of Hygiene, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Francesco Bagordo: Laboratory of Hygiene, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Benedetta Coluccia: Department of Economics and Management, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy
Tiziana Grassi: Laboratory of Hygiene, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Giovanni De Filippis: Local Health Authority ASL Lecce, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Prisco Piscitelli: Local Health Authority ASL Lecce, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Biagio Galante: Local Health Authority ASL Lecce, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Federica De Leo: Department of Economics and Management, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) is the preferred packaging material in the bottled water industry and represents the main cause of waste production. This work investigated the drinking water consumption habits, with particular reference to PET-bottled water, of people living in the province of Lecce (Apulia Region, Southern Italy) by age and geographical groups. Their perception about the quality of tap water was also explored. The survey was performed by the administration of a questionnaire to 4137 citizens. Bottled mineral water was consumed by about the 90.4% of respondents with an average consumption of 387.7 L/year per capita (375.2 L/year in PET-bottles, 12.5 L/year in glass bottles). Public supply system was used by the 61.5% of respondents with an average consumption of 169.4 L/year per capita. The consumption of tap water was negatively related to the perception of its bad quality and the residence in a big city (Lecce); while it was positively associated with the age group ≤ 16 years old. Effective communications strategies must be developed in order to promote the consumption of tap water and implement good practice of circular economy.

Keywords: plastic packaging; bottled water; water consumption; circular economy; resource management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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