The environmental impact of plastic bottles
The UK consumes roughly 3 billion litres of bottled water per year. That represents millions of tonnes of plastic produced, transported and — in the best case — recycled.
Plastic pollution
Only around half of plastic bottles are effectively recycled in the UK. The rest ends up in incineration, landfill or the environment. A PET bottle takes 100 to 1,000 years to decompose. Meanwhile, it fragments into microplastics that contaminate soil, waterways and oceans.
Transport
Bottled water is heavy: 1 litre = 1 kilogram. Transporting it from springs to supermarkets, then from the supermarket to your home, generates considerable CO2 emissions. A pack of 6 bottles of 1.5 L weighs 9 kg — that you carry and that lorries have transported over hundreds of miles.
Annual cost: bottles vs filter
For a household consuming an average of 2 litres per day (730 litres per year):
| Solution | Calculation | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic bottles | 2 L/day x 365 d x €0.30/L | ~€219 |
| Puramane filter (year 1) | Filter €44.90 + 1 cartridge pack €24.90 | ~€70 |
| Puramane filter (year 2+) | 1 pack of 2 cartridges | ~€25 |
Saving from year one: around €150. From year two, the saving reaches nearly €190/year.
1 Puramane cartridge = 2,000 bottles avoided
Each Puramane cartridge filters 2,000 litres. That is the equivalent of 2,000 one-litre bottles that will not be produced, transported or thrown away. Over a year with 2 cartridges, you potentially avoid 4,000 plastic bottles.
In weight, that represents roughly 80 kg less plastic per year (a one-litre PET bottle weighs around 20 g).
Switch to filtered water
Save over €150/year and avoid thousands of plastic bottles. 8-stage filtration at €0.02/litre.
Discover the Puramane filter →Puramane: €0.02 per litre
The Puramane filter is designed to make tap water as enjoyable as bottled water, at a fraction of the cost:
- 8-stage filtration: activated carbon, ion-exchange resin and UV sterilisation for pure, great-tasting water
- LED display: shows temperature and filter status, battery-free (hydraulic energy)
- 2,000 L per cartridge: 3 to 4 months of filtered water for an average household
- Cartridges x2 at €24.90: roughly €0.02 per litre of filtered water
How to make the switch
- Order your Puramane filter from our shop (€44.90)
- Install in 2 minutes on your tap, no tools, choosing from the 6 adaptors supplied. See our installation guide.
- Enjoy filtered water on demand for 3 to 4 months before changing the cartridge
- Say goodbye to heavy water packs and recycle your remaining bottles
Frequently asked questions
How many plastic bottles does a Puramane filter replace?
One Puramane cartridge filters 2,000 litres, equivalent to 2,000 one-litre bottles. Over a year with 2 cartridges, that is potentially 4,000 plastic bottles avoided.
Is the filter really cheaper than bottled water?
Yes. At 2 litres per day, bottles cost around 219 euros per year (0.30 euros/L on average). The Puramane filter costs roughly 70 euros in the first year (filter plus cartridges), then 25 euros/year. The saving is 150 to 190 euros per year.
Is filtered water as good as bottled water?
Tap water filtered with a system like the Puramane (8 stages, activated carbon, UV) no longer tastes of chlorine and is free from the main contaminants. It retains its essential minerals. Many users find it just as pleasant as bottled water.