Bottled Water - The Environmental Cost

Bottled Water - The Environmental Cost

Bottled Water - The Environmental Cost

Sales of bottled water in the UK have increased dramatically over the last 15 years. At around a pound a time, what is it that drives us to pay for a bottle, when we can get safe water from the tap, virtually for free?

Many say that bottled water is purer, giving health benefits, but others would argue we're simply paying for convenience and a lifestyle accessory.

But, with a carbon footprint of around 100g per bottle, the industry has a devastating effect on our environment. Many brands of bottled water are transported from producers to consumers all around the world, which, added to the manufacture of plastic bottles themselves, gives bottled water a massive carbon footprint - some have estimated it is up to 1,000 times that of tap water.

There's also other environmental issues - 13 billion bottles are sold each year, but only 3 billion are recycled, meaning a massive 10 billion bottles going to landfill. It is also estimated that the industrial process uses up to 7 litres of water to produce just 1 litre of bottled water.

And what about the moral issue? Why do consumers in the west choose to spend millions on bottled water, when there are so many people who don't have access to any clean water at all?

As we become more environmentally and ethically aware, sales of bottled water are beginning to reduce. Hopefully this marks the beginning of the end for this convenient but destructive product.

For more tips about reducing your Carbon Footprint, and to become Carbon Neutral through offsetting, visit my website - www.CleanMyCarbon.com

POST COMMENT

You need to act Now, to help save the environment A Closer Look To Environmental Jobs What Qualifications Do I Need To Land An Environmental Job? Do You Have What It Takes To Get An Environmental Job? Five Indoor Environmental Pollutants Qualifications That Any Job-seeker Needs To Get An Environmental Job A Look At Environmental Jobs Mechanical Design, Environmental Compliance And Data Security Issues Window Blinds - Environmental solution in Apartments How To Avoid Environment Damage In Eco-tourism Environmental Groups Tips to Choose Right Security Systems provider for a More Secured Environment Shanghai World Expo Green wind blowing everywhere practicing low-carbon environment - Expo, low carbon - HVAC & R industry