Should We Promote the "Better" Bottled Water?
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 01.22.08
The bottled water controversy: We can tell you the shocking fossil fuel and greenhouse gas figures, ponder the ethics, and give you a million reasons to ditch it.
But right now, it is still out there, filling up our landfills. So do we compromise? Utah-based bottled water producer Park City Ice Water is selling that road--and celebs are jumping on board. The GlacierPak, according to the company, requires 75 percent less energy to produce, and is recyclable. If it is not recycled, it takes up 96 percent less landfill space.
The water is EPA-tested and tapped at the source--ironically, that would be a melting glacier, more than 2000 feet below the Uinta Mountains in Northern Utah. The packaging is also freezable, which can also save energy consumed producing ice, according to the firm. Unfortunately, this would do little to offset the mega carbon footprint delivery generates.
This year, Park City Ice Water was offered at the Golden Globes. We'd like to convince organizers at this kind of event to forgo bottled water entirely. But we are kidding ourselves if we don't admit this is a major undertaking.
Yes, the best way is to follow the example of Times of London food commentator Giles Coren and just say no. Get a filter, drink from the tap, refill an old bottle. Clearly, less packaging is merely the lesser evil. Now the dilemma is: Do we promote it or ignore it? :: Park City Ice Water Via ::News Wire Today Also see ::How to Green Your Water ::DIY Pet Bottle Shredding ::Hitting the Bottle or Hitting the Box
Why is that "better?" It STILL requires that lots of gas get used to distribute and STILL messes with the local ecosystems from which is draws the water. The only better bottled water is the stuff you bottle yourself in your reusable container.
Only if your taps don't work
clean water from the tap:
demand it. drink it. love it.
We don't promote or ignore it, we require it by law for anyone wishing to sell bottled water.
Yoy! Yoy! Yoy! The lengths some people will go to sell bottled water, often nothing but repackaged (filtered) tap water. They have realized that we all are rebelling against the plastic bottle and the fact that it takes up so much landfill space if not recycled and now, a new gimmick.
Reusable bottle and tap water - filter it, I do - and bingo. Yes, a SIGG bottle cost around $15 or so and there are cheaper derivatives, but that soon pays for itself in you not having to buy tap water in bottles and pay $1 or more each time.