subject: Bottled Water - The Environmental Cost [print this page] 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
