Comments on: Bottled water: can it ever be green?

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:28:47 +0000

While this was a nice effort by this company, the only way to reduce the carbon footprint created by the bottled water industry is to eliminate the bottled water industry. They can try all they want to sponsor recycling drives in schools and such, but they can’t MAKE anything happen. It’s simply not enough. Reusable bottles like stainless steel and glass bottles would do way more to help the carbon footprint.

Thanks for posting!

By: SUNfiltered : Fresh culture daily. » Blog Archive » Fill your water bottle on the go: TapIt

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:50:39 +0000

[...] Bottled water contributes to a host of environmental challenges — you know that. But, let’s face it — bottled water is also incredibly convenient, especially if you’re on the go a lot. A refillable bottle is environmentally preferable, but if you’re out and about, and run out of water, you may also find yourself out of luck in terms of refilling it. [...]

By: Philine

Philine — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:07:44 +0000

Interesting article. Bottled water has become a major convenience across the world. I live in Hong Kong and we consume a lot of water especially in summer. As far as the nika concept is concerned, it looks like a light green marketing trick. PET bottles, if really neeeded, should be recycled in the municipally. Even in Hong Kong at some places its possible to do so. And I agree that we have drinkable water at home, I filter it and use my PET botttle at least several months before throwing it. Mostly its a souvenir from another country, and I am reminded of that location when I drink. At the moment my PET bottle is from China…
I like your blog, cheers, Philine

By: Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:48:49 +0000

Tom — I asked for your opinion, and you gave it… I’m glad you chimed in. I don’t think anything in this post was mean… I gave links to multiple sources that offer criticisms of bottled water, but also laid out all of Nika’s efforts. I think Daniel said it well: “people [in the developed world] already have access to clean water in their homes.” Reusable bottles for that clean water are available and affordable. I’m not necessarily interested in attacking your industry, either… but I don’t think “there are greener options available” is an attack… it’s a fact.

Again, thanks for your comment… and feel free to respond.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:19:11 +0000

Tom,

I’ve seen your posts on various other blogs, and you always raise insightful counterpoints in defense of the bottled water industry. We cannot blame the bottled water industry as not being green when the consumers are not recycling the bottles.

Certainly bottled water has its place, and it’s hard to argue with the greener efforts Nika is putting in place.

You’re also right that it’s unfair to criticize the wastefulness of bottled water when other foods and drinks are packaged similarly. There are, however, a few differences here. These foods aren’t sold and used (and hence wasted) to the same degree bottled water is.

But the biggest difference is that, by and large, people already have access to clean water in their homes, thus negating the need for bottled water in the first place. Yes, tap water is not perfect, but with the proper filtration can be every bit as clean and “pure” as most bottled waters.

I hope I don’t come across as attacking your industry, because I think bottled water has its place. But as people recognize the financial and environmental advantages of filtering their tap water, the place for bottled water will grow ever smaller.

By: fighthunger

fighthunger — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:57:15 +0000

Our company, in an effort to maintain it’s commitment to social responsibility, has started to offer compostable cups set up next to community water jugs for all of our service projects. The little steps are what count.

By: Tom Lauria

Tom Lauria — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:44:27 +0000

Looks like the families and companies that bottled water are damned if they and damned if they don’t. Nika (which is not a member company of the International Bottled Water Assn.) is doing its level best to be candid with consumers while providing for their hydration away from the tap. Here, and elsewhere, they are sustaining criticism even after they conform the best they can to the environmentalist agenda. When did green become mean? And where does anyone come-off knocking good hydration? All the major bottled water companies are avid recycling advocates. Now what the rest of the food and hygiene manufacturers who put their product in plastic? Why does criticism of plastic begin and end with bottled water, which is just about the healthiest packaged beverage a person can drink? One more thing: Is anybody anywhere falling for that baloney about bottled water being the world’s third-largest industry??

By: Greener Bottled Water? Really? : Sustainablog

Greener Bottled Water? Really? : Sustainablog — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:02:13 +0000

[...] the rest of this post on bottled water at the Sundance Channel’s SUNfiltered [...]