Bottled water is damaging the health of our planet

HYDRATION, hydration, hydration... Many believe it's the number one rule of wellness. On a very basic level, we need water to survive (our bodies are made up of 60 per cent water, it's in our cells, in blood, in our brain and spinal fluids) - but it's only once you get into the habit of making a conscious effort to stay well hydrated, that you truly realise the difference it can make.

Scientifically, opinions can be mixed as to whether we really do 'need' at least six to eight daily glasses of straight-up H2O (more if you're exercising/in a hot place), the amount so often bandied by nutritionists and wellness and lifestyle gurus, to reap the benefits.

Back in 2011, for example, Glasgow GP Dr Margaret McCartney published an article in the BMJ on how there is not actually strong evidence that we really need to drink this much, while according to the Tea Advisory Panel, recent studies have suggested that drinking tea can tick those hydration boxes just as well (those dehydrating diuretic effects might not be such a concern after all). Foods contain water too, and then there are all the other liquids we consume.

So if you really just don't like plain water, and rely more on other types of drinks, then no, chances are, you're not going to perish as a result and your body will keep functioning - but as a water-glugging-devotee, I, and millions of others, will still think you're missing a trick.

Sometimes it's not about scientific evidence; it's about how you feel. Getting my water quota means fewer headaches, a clearer and more alert mind, perkier energy levels, not to mention brighter, healthier-looking skin.

For beauty and wellbeing entrepreneur Liz Earle, drinking water is as essential a part of skincare as the products you put on - and she should know, as co-founder of one of Britain's biggest independent beauty brands. "Don't forget that skincare starts from within," she reiterates. "Drinking loads of water is absolutely key for great skin, everyone should aim to drink at least one-and-a-half to two litres a day."

If her own radiant complexion is anything to go by - she's a mother-of-five and in her 50s - it's advice worth listening to. But for Earle, beauty and overall health and wellbeing have always been intrinsically linked, in that they're things that exist together, and deserve to be nurtured and cared for together.

It's a philosophy she extends to the environment too. "Communicating issues about wellbeing is something I do every day, and I believe that protecting the environment is fundamental to the wellbeing of all of us in the UK," she says.

Unfortunately, staying topped up with H2O and being kind to the planet don't always go hand in hand.

Despite the fact our tap water is safe to drink, according to new research on behalf of BRITA, UK adults will get through 7.7 billion single-use plastic water bottles this year alone. And it's not just when we're out and about: nearly a third (30 per cent) admit to using bottled water at home too, and 22 per cent of four to 18-year-olds drink mainly bottled water.

According to a Mintel report, sales of bottled water grew by 25 per cent from 2010-2015. This might be a good sign that those healthy hydration messages are trickling through, but it's not great news for the environment - even if the bottles you choose are recyclable.

The BRITA figures reveal 32 per cent of us don't believe our bottled water habits contribute to pollution because we recycle. However, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which BRITA has partnered with on a campaign, explains that it's not always that simple.

"It takes 162g of oil and seven litres of water to manufacture a single one-litre disposable PET bottle, which amounts to the release of 100g of carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas. This means single use plastic bottles significantly contribute to pollution, even if they are subsequently recycled," says Dr Sue Kinsey, senior pollution policy officer at the Marine Conservation Society.

Plus, they aren't all recycled. More than five billion plastic bottles a year end up as litter or in landfill, notes Richard McIlwain, deputy chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, and some end up in our oceans, where they're "a menace to wildlife, particularly as they start to break down", says Kinsey.

"They add to the microplastic load of the oceans and can be eaten by animals at all stages of the food chain," she adds.

With harnessing the power of nature at the heart of her brand ethos, and having grown up with a long-lasting love for and fascination with the sea ("My father was in the Navy, and I'd always lived near the sea"), Earle is passionate about encouraging everybody to do their bit to help protect our oceans, and promote our own healthy habits in the meantime.

Switching to tap water is also, of course, far cheaper, and if you don't like the idea of drinking straight from the tap, BRITA products make it simple to filter water, whether to keep in a jug in the fridge, or take out and about in a reusable bottle.

"I've always used a BRITA water filter; I was probably an early adopter," says Earle. "But what is really shocking for me is the number of single-use plastic bottles that are being used in this country. It's a major concern."

Liz Earle is an ambassador for BRITA, championing sustainability. To find out more, visit brita.co.uk