The bottled water market - United States

1.1 Definition and presentation

Bottled water is drinking water – either natural or purified – packaged inside plastic or glass bottles. The bottled water market refers to production and consumption of:

• spring water 
• sparkling water 
• water made mineral by treatment

The Global Market amounted to 17 million tons in 2018; from 2011 to 2018, the market for plastic bottles grew by CAGR 2.3%. This growth is attributable to the packaging- and cost-efficiency of plastic compared to other raw materials such as glass. The US market has the largest global market share; the CAGR is estimated at 4.61% between 2020-2025.

Bottled water is considered a consumer food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has strict standards of identification for bottled water. Nevertheless, the market remains competitive. Players such as Alpha Packaging, Consolidated Container Company, Amcor Limited, and Berry Global Group stand amongst the key players.

Trends in this market include kid friendly bottles, dual usage, and sustainability. The first phenomenon refers to bottles which include cartoon characters on the labelling; this attracts the attention of kids. Secondly, dual usage bottles, for example a bottle which can be converted into a wine glass, appeal to customers due to the convenience. Finally, plastic bottles using for example elements of paper appeal more to consumers in times when concerns over plastic’s environmental impact are rising. [Chron]