Environmental ethics of refill water consumption and the challenges of reducing single-use plastic: a literature review of community behavior in Gorontalo

Abstract

Single-use bottled water remains a dominant choice among consumers in Gorontalo despite the widespread availability of refillable water depots, creating an ethical dilemma between the perceived hygiene of packaged water and the ecological responsibility to reduce plastic waste. This article examines refill water consumption through an environmental ethics perspective by analyzing moral values, risk perception, and social influences on consumer behavior. A narrative literature review was conducted using empirical studies, community reports, health regulations, and ethical analyses (2015–2025). Thematic analysis reveals that consumption choices are shaped not only by environmental awareness but also by perceived safety, bottled water branding, and social habits. Several local studies indicate that some refill water depots show inconsistent microbiological or chemical quality, reinforcing consumer preference for bottled water. From a responsibility ethics standpoint, reducing plastic waste is morally defensible only when the safety of refill water is reliably ensured by producers and monitored by public authorities. Thus, low-plastic water consumption should be understood as an ethical practice that requires guaranteed safety, ecological education, and social value transformation to support environmentally sustainable behavior.