The study considers single-use plastic bottles and alternatives that could potentially replace them from a functional and transportation point of view. The following alternatives are considered: glass bottle (single-use), aluminium can (single-use), carton laminated packaging systems (single-use), reusable steel and aluminium bottles, as well as non-container means for providing drinking water (see table below). Reusable glass bottles were considered in one study only as part of sensitivity analysis.

The report includes a meta-analysis of seven life cycle assessment (LCA) publications.