Sundance Channel

Organic bottled water… really

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:56:10 +0000

Bottled water companies have had to get imaginative to distinguish their products from one another, because, as many watchdog groups have pointed out, all of it is pretty much just water (often filtered tap water) in a plastic bottle, and it's often not as "pure" as tap water. That hasn't stopped vendors from using everything from school spirit to New Age-y interpretations of quantum physics to position their products as unique. The latest marketing trend for bottled water? Organic. Yep, that's right. A number of companies now market "organic water."

Bottled tap water to fund scholarships at UT-Austin

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:01:19 +0000

With state budgets in shambles, public universities have had to get creative about funding. In Austin, the University of Texas has taken an approach to funding scholarships that could undermine the region's otherwise sterling green credentials: the sale of H2Orange bottled tap water (which comes in a bottle shaped like the UT Tower).

Aquamantra: A greener bottled water?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:02:25 +0000

Nothing raises the ire of a good greenie like bottled water, right? You only need to review the Sierra Club's bottled water facts brochure (or watch a film like FLOW) to recognize the source of that anger: individual plastic bottles of water create costs at all points in their lifecycle, from the pumping of spring water (when that's the case), to production of bottles, to transportation of the product, and finally to disposal of the empty bottle. These processes impact environmental quality, broad access to fresh water, and even human health... an awful lot of bottled water doesn't stand up to claims of a cleaner, healthier product.

What does 1 second of bottled water consumption look like?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:11:25 +0000

Design firm MSLK notes that we American consume 1500 plastic bottles of water every second. Great statistic... but does it create a particularly vivid image for you of the levels of bottled water consumption? If not, no worries: MSLK has that covered. Their new art installation Watershed integrates 1500 empty water bottles with "signs with facts about the dangers of this rate of consumption and what the public can do to make a change."

Fill your water bottle on the go: TapIt

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:50:34 +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.

Bottled water: can it ever be green?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:00:17 +0000

Still have bottled water as a regular item on the grocery list? Or just pick up the occasional bottle when you're out? It's so convenient... As you probably know, that convenience comes at an environmental and social price: documentaries such as FLOW and Thirst, organizations such as the Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Fund, and even a few of us lowly bloggers, have reported on the costs created by water's transformation from a freely-available resource to a multi-billion dollar commodity. That bottle of water you buy now contributes to the world's third-largest industry.

Festival Updates Spotlight : Brita Green Room

Sundance Channel — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:25:29 +0000

This year, The Sundance Film Festival is highlighting the environmental importance of filtered tap water by joining with Brita and Nalgene in support of Filter for Good, an innovative campaign to reduce bottled water waste. Meet the people helping bring change to the Sundance Film Festival by watching the video below.

Bottled Water Taboo at UK Government Meetings

Sundance Channel — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:00:00 +0000

LONDON, UK, March 9, 2008 (ENS) – The use of bottled water for meetings and other official business is to be phased out across the whole government estate. The new policy, announced Thursday, is expected to come into effect by the summer. Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell has written to the head of every government [...]

Keeping Water Clean: By the Numbers

Sundance Channel — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:00:00 +0000

Water is an amazing resource, that gets wasted in amazing numbers. Check out the sobering numbers below, and keep ‘em in mind when the faucet starts to drip. 2.5 — in gallons, the amount of water that most of the developing world gets by on per day. 400 — in gallons, the amount of water [...]