Why plastic water bottle sales are increasing in France
Sales increased by 3.3% in 2025, based on a new study
Study shows bottled drinks now account for nearly 40% of plastic packaging
Sergey Ryzhov/Shutterstock.
Sales of plastic water bottles in French supermarkets rose by 3.3% in 2025, despite laws
aiming to reduce single-use plastics.
Bottled drinks now account for nearly 40% of plastic packaging, according to a study by Que Choisir Ensemble and No Plastic In My Sea.
The reason for this is a combination of consumer habits, marketing, and the lack of effective reduction policies by the supermarkets.
“The increase is partly because of very hot summers. People drink more, naturally,” said Muriel Papin, Executive Director at No Plastic In My Sea, to The Connexion.
“But there is also the expansion of the market. There are so many types of bottled drinks now like small formats, drinks for children, flavoured waters. It’s a wide offer that didn’t exist a few years ago,” she added.
The study also shows that supermarkets continue to rely heavily on packaging. Around 60% of common fruit and vegetables are sold packaged, rising to 91% for organic produce, about half of which is plastic.
Additionally, nearly half of all supermarkets now offer pre-cut vegetables in plastic, a trend the associations describe as “particularly harmful.”
Marketing campaigns further fuel the trend. “Every summer, campaigns encourage people to buy bottled water or beverages,” Ms Papin said.
Finally, consumer concerns over tap water quality also play a role. “There have been many studies on pesticides and PFAS in tap water. While these studies are important, they often don’t compare tap water with bottled water, which can also contain contaminants,” Ms Papin added.
“The main source of exposure to PFAS is actually food, not water. However people lose confidence in tap water and choose bottled water instead.”
Ms Papin also detailed a hidden downside of bottled water: microplastics. “Bottled water may feel safer, but it can also contain microplastics. Consumers aren’t always aware of that,” she said.
She explained that misinformation and lack of local context only make the issue worse. “Pollution in tap water is very localised. Many people live in areas where the water is fine, but they hear alarming stories and buy bottled water out of caution.”
