Removing non-reusable plastic bottled water: sustainability vs. health?

This study examines the unintended consequences of a policy banning non-reusable bottled water in public institutions in Navarra, Spain, focusing on its impact on vending machine beverage consumption. Utilizing a difference-in-difference (DID) methodology, we compare the consumption from vending machines at a public university affected by the ban with a neighboring private university that was not. Our analysis reveals a significant substitution effect: the consumption of carbonated and non-carbonated sugary sweetened beverages (SSBs) increased by 44.1 % on daily basis per vending machine. This shift equates to an additional consumption of 77 g of sugar per day and vending machine, highlighting a health trade-off for environmental gains. The study contributes to the environmental and health economics literature by providing causal evidence on the impact of plastic-free policies.