A Concordia University study drawing on responses from more than 15,000 people in 81 countries linked bottled-water use to convenience, perceived protection from microbes and advertising. Awareness of plastic-related health risks did not always change buying habits.
Younger respondents and those with more education were more likely to use single-use bottles; older respondents more often carried refillable bottles, while younger respondents were more likely to recycle. Greater ad exposure was associated with higher consumption, though it explained about 6% of the variation in the study’s model.
In the survey, 75% of respondents believed single-use bottles contained nano- and microplastics, and 70% believed there was a connection between those plastics and cancer. The study also reported that many respondents continued buying bottled water despite health concerns.
