---
title: Bottled Water Stats & Time Series Plots
description: Bottled Water Stats & Time Series Plots
image: https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/featured_image_bottled_water-3.jpg
---

English

- [English](https://blog.minitab.com/en/?hsLang=en)
- [Français](https://blog.minitab.com/fr/?hsLang=en)
- [Deutsch](https://blog.minitab.com/de/?hsLang=en)
- [Português](https://blog.minitab.com/pt/?hsLang=en)
- [Español](https://blog.minitab.com/es/?hsLang=en)
- [日本語](https://blog.minitab.com/ja/?hsLang=en)
- [한국어](https://blog.minitab.com/ko/?hsLang=en)
- [中文（简体）](https://blog.minitab.com/zh/?hsLang=en)

- [![Icon Partners](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/Partners.png) Partners](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/partners/)
- [![Icon Contact](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/Contact.png) Contact](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/contact-us/)
- [![Icon Talk to Minitab](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/Phone.png) Talk to Minitab](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/talk-to-minitab/)
- [![Icon My Account](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/MyAcct.png) My Account](https://licensing.minitab.com/account/manage)

[![Minitab](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/minitab-corp-logo.svg)](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/)

- Products
  
  Back
  
  [Products](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/)
  
  [All Products](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/) 
    - [Minitab Solution Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/minitab-solution-center/)
    - [Minitab Statistical Software](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/minitab/)
    - [Minitab Connect](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/connect/)
    - [Minitab Model Ops](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/model-ops/)
    - [Minitab Education Hub](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/education-hub/)
    - [Minitab Engage](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/engage/)
    - [Minitab Workspace](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/workspace/)
    - [Real-Time SPC](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/real-time-spc/)
    - [Prolink Data Collection & SPC](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/prolink)
    - [Simul8 Discrete Event Simulation](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [SPM](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/spm/)
- Solutions
  
  Back
  
  [Solutions](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/)
  
  [All Solutions](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/) 
    - [Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/)
    - [Statistics & Predictive Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/statistical-analysis-predictive-analytics/)
    - [Data Science & Machine Learning](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/data-science-machine-learning/)
    - [Business Analytics & Intelligence](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/business-analytics-intelligence/)
    - [Statistical Process Control](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/statistical-process-control/)
    - [Quality Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/quality-analytics/)
    - [Live Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/live-analytics/)
    - [Reliability & Life Data Analysis](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/reliability/)
    - [Discrete Event Simulation](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [Process Mining](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [Key Capabilities](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/)
    - [Continuous Improvement](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/continuous-improvement/)
    - [Data Integration & Data Prep](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/data-integration-data-prep/)
    - [Diagramming & Mind Mapping](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/diagramming-mind-mapping/)
    - [Digital Twins](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [Model Deployment & ML Ops](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/model-deployment-ml-ops/)
    - [Innovation & Project Management](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/innovation-project-management/)
    - [Process Excellence: Detect, Correct & Prevent](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/process-excellence/)
    - [Featured Industries](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/)
    - [Academic](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/academic/)
    - [Energy & Natural Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/energy-resources/)
    - [Government & Public Sector](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/government/)
    - [Healthcare](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/healthcare/)
    - [Insurance](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/insurance/)
    - [Manufacturing & Industrial](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/manufacturing-industrial/)
    - [Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/service-industries/)
    - [Software & Technology](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/software-technology/)
    - [Construction](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/construction/)
    - [Featured Roles](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/)
    - [Engineering](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/engineering/)
    - [Business Analysis](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/business-analysts/)
    - [Information Technology](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/information-technology/)
    - [Supply Chain](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/supply-chain/)
    - [Customer Service & Contact Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/customer-service-contact-center/)
    - [Human Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/human-resources/)
    - [Marketing](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/marketing/)
    - [Research and Development](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/research-and-development/)
- Resources & Services
  
  Back
  
  [Resources & Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/)
  
  [All Resources & Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/) 
    - [Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/)
    - [Case Studies](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/case-studies/)
    - [eBooks & White Papers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/ebooks-and-white-papers/)
    - [Blog](https://blog.minitab.com/blog/?hsLang=en)
    - [Data Sets](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/data-set/)
    - [Webinars & Events](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/events/)
    - [Education Hub](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/education-hub/)
    - [Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/)
    - [Training](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/training/)
    - [Deployment](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/deployment/)
    - [Consulting](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/statistical-consulting/)
    - [Self-Paced Learning](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/self-paced-learning/)
    - [Continuing Education](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/continuing-education/)
- Support
  
  Back
  
  [Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/)
  
  [Technical Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/) 
    - [Subscriptions & Activation](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/subscriptions-and-activation/)
    - [Minitab Quick Start](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/quick-start/)
    - [Training](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/training/)
    - [Installation Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/installation/)
    - [Support Videos](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/videos/)
    - [Support Documentation](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/documents/)
    - [Software Updates](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/software-updates/)
    - [Product Downloads](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/downloads/)
    - [Support Policy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/policy/)
- Company
  
  Back
  
  [Company](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/)
  
  [Company](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/) 
    - [About Us](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/our-company/)
    - [Leadership Team](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/leadership-team/)
    - [Partners](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/partners/)
    - [Careers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/careers/)
    - [Contact](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/contact-us/)
    - [News](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/press-releases/)

[Try/Buy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/try-buy/)

- [Statistics](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/statistics)
- [Data Analysis](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/data-analysis)
  
    - <https://www.minitab.com/en-us/>
- [Quality Improvement](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/quality-improvement)

- [Subscribe](https://info.minitab.com/blog/subscribe?hsLang=en)

![Minitab](https://20853177.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20853177/minitab-corp-logo.svg?t=1755011311618)

## Notice

You are now leaving minitab.com.

 Click Continue to proceed to:

 Continue

 Go Back

# Bottled Water Stats & Time Series Plots

 Minitab Blog Editor  |  1/18/2016

 Topics: [Statistics in the News](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/statistics-in-the-news), [Data Analysis](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/data-analysis), [Statistics](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/statistics)

- [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/real-world-quality-improvement/bottled-water-stats-time-series-plots)
- [Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/real-world-quality-improvement/bottled-water-stats-time-series-plots)

Ahh, bottled water. Refreshing, convenient...and sometimes pricey. Or in my case, I should say *usually* pricey. Confession: I’m a sucker for water that comes in the “pretty” plastic bottles, and my experience is that the pretty-bottle brands are usually the pricier ones. Does bottled water cost increase with the fanciness of the bottle? Well, that could be an analysis for a different day …

My colleague recently shared some interesting stats about the buying and disposing of plastic bottled water containers (Maybe she’s noticed my excessive use of “pretty” bottled waters …?).

According to the organization [Ban the Bottle](https://www.banthebottle.net/bottled-water-facts/), making bottles to meet America’s demand for bottled water requires more than 17 million barrels of oil annually, which is enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for 1 year. They also cite that Americans consume more than 48 billion bottles of water annually, which is enough bottles to circle the earth 230 times!

While these bottled water facts are certainly enough to convince me to scale back on my “pretty” bottled water habit, a visual representation of data in the form of a Minitab graph is also compelling.

Check out the [overlaid time series plot](http://support.minitab.com/en-us/minitab/17/topic-library/basic-statistics-and-graphs/graphs/graphs-of-time-series/time-series-plots/create-a-plot-of-overlaid-time-series/#dctm_Chron09000457802052c8/) below that shows data published by the [Container Recycling Institute](http://www.container-recycling.org/) on the number of plastic bottled water containers sold, recycled, and wasted for 1991-2013:

**![](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/time_series_blog-Jul-06-2025-12-34-02-8209-AM.png)**

You can see that bottled water sales have largely risen over the past 20+ years, although it’s interesting to note that they were potentially impacted by the economic downturn in 2008. And while recycling rates have seen a gentle increase, they have not seen enough of an increase to come even close to the volume of bottles wasted (and not recycled) over the years.

This is certainly food for thought when considering whether or not you should fork over a buck or two for a bottle of water—or in my case, $4 or $5 for the “pretty” bottled water—and whether or not you should throw those bottles in the garbage can!

For more on creating time series plots in Minitab, visit [this article](http://support.minitab.com/en-us/minitab/17/topic-library/basic-statistics-and-graphs/graphs/graphs-of-time-series/time-series-plots/time-series-plot/) from Minitab Support.

## You Might Also Like

<https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/new-minitab-updates-unite-data-collection-preparation-and-predictive-analytics?hsLang=en>

[New Minitab Updates Unite Data Collection, Preparation, and Predictive Analytics](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/new-minitab-updates-unite-data-collection-preparation-and-predictive-analytics?hsLang=en)

[Data Preparation](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/data-preparation)  | 5 Minute Read

<https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/artemis-ii-heat-shield-how-do-you-decide-under-uncertainty?hsLang=en>

[Artemis II Heat Shield: How Do You Decide in Uncertain Conditions?](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/artemis-ii-heat-shield-how-do-you-decide-under-uncertainty?hsLang=en)

[Data Analysis](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/data-analysis)  | 4 Minute Read

<https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/6-trends-shaping-business-decisions-in-2026?hsLang=en>

[6 Trends Shaping Business Decisions in 2026](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/6-trends-shaping-business-decisions-in-2026?hsLang=en)

[Oee](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/oee)  | 8 Minute Read

---

- [Careers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/careers/)
- [Trust Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/trust-center/)
- [Suppliers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/suppliers/)
- [Site Map](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/site-map/)

- [![linkedin](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/linkedin-1.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/minitab/)
- [![facebook](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/Minitab/)
- [![youtube](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/MinitabInc)
- [![instagram](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/minitab/)

---

© 2025 Minitab, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

- [Terms of Use](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/terms-of-use/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/privacy-policy/)
- [Legal](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/)

- Cookies Settings