What are the 10 most sustainable water bottle brands in the world? Can bottled water be sustainable?
Tap water will always be the most sustainable option, followed byfiltered water. So always avoid bottled or packaged water if you can. use arefillable water bottlewhen you're on the go.
But in case you need to buy bottled water, here's a guide to which brands and types of bottles you should buy.
First. Let's look at the questions you should ask about any brand of bottled water:
Is it a recycled or reusable bottle?
The plastic in our oceans could circle the planet 400 times. It threatens marine ecosystems and contributes to climate change. About 54% of plastic bottles are recycled (according to the bottled water industry). In 2018, less than 20% of the content in new bottles came from recycled content. If you buy a plastic bottle, buy one with a high recycled content.glass bottlesare perceived as more sustainable, but are only better than single-use plastic if the bottles are reused at least 3-4 times.
Is boxed water more sustainable?
Packing water in a box is best when your alternative is plastic or glass bottles - probably. The high paper content is a good thing: trees are indeed renewable, whereas petroplastic is not. Water-in-a-Box achieves a clear gain in climate impact due to its lower transport-related CO2 emissions. Boxed Water transports empty boxes to its service stations in flat packs, fitting 26 truckloads of containers in a single truck – better than plastic cans. But, as always, there is a catch.Those ones:https://grist.org/living/is-boxed-water-actually-eco-friendly/
Most bottled water brands use a combination of paper and other recyclable ingredients like plastic and aluminum, which are considered more sustainable, but that doesn't eliminate the waste problem. That's because only specialized facilities can recycle these materials, so many boxes still end up in landfills.
Those ones:https://www.mashed.com/218494/the-shady-truth-about-carton-water/
Will the bottle be shipped from abroad or across the country?
Transport accounts for a large part of the carbon footprint of bottled water. Therefore, we cannot include Fiji water shipped from Fiji to the United States in the top 10 most sustainable bottled water brands. In general, local brands perform better in terms of sustainability on a transport basis alone.
We reviewed over 200 bottled water brands and chose the 10 most sustainable based on the criteria below.
- Bottle material - glass, PET, other plastic, aluminum or Tetra Pak (equivalent)
- reuse and recycle
- water source and extraction
- Carbon footprint – Company/brand initiatives to offset carbon footprint, material and water waste
- Transport – where it comes from, where it is sold and what means of transport is used
We then gave each parameter a rating based on the following scale
1 – Very large negative impact
2 - Large negative impact
3 – Negative impact, but tries to improve
4 – Neutral environmental impact
5 – Positive environmental impact
Based on that analysis, here are the top 10:
10. 365 Whole Foods Daily Mineral Water(US)
Whole Foods' own mineral water brand may not seem like a sustainable alternative at first glance. They don't even market it as sustainable. But it's locally sourced, which makes a big difference in terms of sourcing, transport and carbon footprint. If Wholefoods could offer it in reusable glass bottles, that would be an even better alternative.
Materials: 1
Reuse/Recycle: 2
Those: 4
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 2
Result: 12th
Internet site:https://products.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/365-everyday-value-bottled-spring-water-b8dd96
9. Right Water
100% recyclable aluminum cans that are also BPA free to make them suitable for consumers who may be concerned about unprepared ingredients in their water. Sourced from protected natural springs in California, the water is packaged in the state before being manually inspected before leaving the factory. The product is packed with biodegradable pallet film and cardboard to further reinforce the spirit of plastic-free packaging. The RightWater brand is part of the Zero Plastic Movement founded by Simon Konecki.
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 2
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 3
Result: 14th
Internet site:http://drinkrightwater.com
8. Dasani (Cola)
Dasani is another big brand that has committed to making bottled water more sustainable. Beverage packaging and reducing the ecological footprint. Recent innovations include HybridBottle, PlantBottle and PureFill. HybridBottle uses up to 50% renewable plant-based material and recycled PET plastic. The biggest innovation is the PureFill, but with only a few hundred of these water dispensers in the US, it's unclear if that's a real compromise or greenwashing (Link:https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/dasani-makes-bigger-splash-bottled-water-sustainability
). Therefore, our assessment is based on the Dasani HybridBottle, which is already available nationwide. Dasani is made with municipal tap water and packaged on site whenever possible.
Internet site:https://www.dasani.com/
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 2
Those: 4
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 2
Result: 14th
7. Mountain Valley Spring Water
Mountain Valley is one of the older brands in our comparison, but its advantage is its use of reusable glass bottles. While single-use glass bottles are considered better than plastic, this is generally not due to energy consumption to manufacture, weight, and recycling capabilities. In addition to reusable bottles, Mountain Valley also goes to great lengths to source water sustainably and invest in protecting the local environment. On the negative side, the door-to-door delivery service for glass bottles is wasteful in terms of transport and CO2.
Materials: 4
Reuse/Recycle: 4
Those: 4
Transport: 2
CO2 compensation: 2
Result: 16th
Internet site:https://www.mountainvalleyspring.com
6. Hochlandfrühling
One of the first bottles made from 100% recycled and fully recyclable PET plastic. However, bottles made from 100% recycled PET are currently limited to 50 and 75cl and not the larger sizes. Highland Spring is sustainably sourced and also invests in rail freight to transport bottles in an environmentally responsible manner and reduce its carbon footprint. Most bottles are sold locally in the UK, avoiding long journeys.
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 4
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 3
Result: 16th
5. Sources from Poland
However, it's not just challenger brands and smaller brands that are looking to sustainability. Nestlé Waters North America has committed to making 50% of its water bottles from recycled PET by 2025, with an intermediate target of 25% by 2021 – approximately four times the amount of rPET used today. Its Poland Spring brand will use 100% recycled plastic by 2022. Nestlé has also set a company-wide goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 through innovation in packaging, renewable energy and agriculture. This does not apply to CO2 offsetting and emission reductions. Source:https://www.nestle.com/ask-nestle/environment/answers/nestle-climate-change
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 4
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 3
Result: 16th
Internet site:https://www.polandspring.com/
4. Richard's Rainwater
Today, rainwater is naturally clean unless you live in a highly polluted area, and if it's collected as it falls, it requires significantly less processing. Richards Rainwater's closed loop system allows them to purify 100% of their rainwater with virtually no waste. Richards Rainer primarily uses glass and aluminum bottles with the aim of always recycling or reusing them.
In addition, they are dedicated to building local energy-saving rainwater harvesting centers as close to our customers as possible. The company's stated goal is "to always be the most sustainable bottled water company in the world".
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 5
Transport: 2
CO2 compensation: 3
Result: 16th
Internet site:https://www.richardsrainwater.com/
3. Water only
Fully recyclable bottles are made from 53% paper; The rest of the bottle is made of plastic and a small amount of aluminum. Bottle only excess water that the local community does not need and pay fairly for the water used. The JUST water box represents a 50% reduction in global warming potential compared to an average weight 100% PET plastic bottle. On average, 52% of the weight of the JUST water container is cardboard. The use of wood fiber as the main raw material minimizes the need for materials based on fossil fuels. The materials are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which guarantees that the wood products purchased come from responsible and healthy forests.
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 4
Transport: 4
CO2 compensation: 3
Result: 17th
2. Waiakea-Quellen
Waiākea is one of the few bottled waters that already uses 100% high quality RPET or post-consumer recycled PET in all of its bottles. RPET is post-consumer recycled plastic and has a significantly lower carbon footprint than glass and TetraPak (cardboard) based on the sources we found. Waiakea is also certified net carbon neutral. This is achieved through a combination of improved material sourcing, manufacturing, distribution/transportation, and end-of-life management. The total carbon footprint of sourcing, materials, manufacturing and transportation is 100% offset by an equivalent amount of CO2 saved through a verified emissions reduction project.
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 4
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 4
Result: 17th
Internet site:https://waiakeasprings.com
1. Bottled water
Similar to Just Water Boxed Water, but now made from 92% plant-based materials. In recent years, Boxed Water has run a social media campaign that has resulted in the planting of over 1 million trees, thereby offsetting much of its carbon footprint related to production and transport. Sustainability is part of the mission. Boxed Water is also partnering with Ocean Blue to clean up 3,000 miles of beaches. Water is obtained regionally (currently at two locations) from municipal water to avoid lengthy transports.
Substances: 3
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 4
Transport: 4
CO2 compensation: 4
Result: 18th
Internet site:https://boxedwaterisbetter.com/
Disclaimer:
The analysis is based on information found on the internet about each brand and company. We have not spoken to any of the individual brands or verified the accuracy of the information. Tap water is always the most sustainable option, so avoid bottled water if you can.
Other major brands analyzed
The following major bottled water brands were also reviewed for sustainability, but did not make the top 10 list.
Glaceau Smart Water – Coca Cola
Coca Cola markets Smart Water as bottled water with electrolytes, including ionized minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium. Basically the minerals you find in most tap water. This is not very surprising considering that Smartwater is produced locally in each market, distilling public tap water.
SmartWater uses up to 30% plant-based plastic in some bottles. Coca-Cola claims this has prevented the equivalent of CO2 emissions by removing nearly 1 million vehicles since 2009. Since launching the PlantBottle, Coca-Cola has allowed non-competing companies to use the technology and brand in their products - from Heinz Tomato Ketchup to fabric interiors in certain Ford Fusion hybrid sedans. This is a positive result. but 2019
Coca-Cola has announced that its GLACÉAU Smartwater bottles will be made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET) by 2020.
Substances: 2
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 3
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 1
Result: 12th
Internet site:https://www.drinksmartwater.com/
Pure Life - Nestle
Pure Life is manufactured at two locations in North America and then shipped for consumption in Canada and the United States. The biggest controversy was the withdrawal of so much water from the small village of Aberfoyle, Ontario. Considering that Pure Life is primarily purified municipal water, it's not really a sustainability issue.
Nestlé has also been working to improve production processes, which already use 1.94 liters of water against an average of 3 liters for other brands. This makes Nestlé Pure Life one of the most environmentally friendly bottled drinks from a water waste point of view. However, PureLife currently uses regular PET.
Materials: 1
Reuse/Recycle: 2
Those: 4
Transport: 3
CO2 compensation: 1
Result: 11th
https://www.nestlepurelife.com/us/en-us/sustainability
Aquafina – Pepsi Co
Aquafina is bottled from local municipal tap water sources and undergoes a purification process that includes reverse osmosis, ultraviolet and ozone sterilization. Reverse osmosis, in particular, is generally thought of as a wasteful filtration process.
PepsiCo has 40 bottled water manufacturing facilities across the United States to shorten the distance Aquafina travels from factories to stores and customers. This is probably the most locally produced brand.
Aquafina claims to be more sustainable by reducing the PET plastic used in its bottles by 40% since 2005, but the same goes for any water bottle brand.
Materials: 1
Reuse/Recycle: 2
Those: 4
Transport: 4
CO2 compensation: 1
Result: 12th
Site: https://www.aquafina.com/en-US/sustainability.html
Fidschi – The Wonderful Company
Fiji Water is a bottled water brand sourced, bottled and shipped from Fiji.
Fiji Water currently uses a 25% rPet bottle and has committed to increasing to a 100% rPet bottle by 2025. Due to criticism, investments have been made in renewable energy, but this is marginal in relation to the overall carbon footprint.
Fiji Water has also established a foundation to provide water filters to rural communities in Fiji, many of which lack access to clean drinking water. But again, it's a relatively small investment considering the population that doesn't have access to water.
Substances: 2
Reuse/Recycle: 3
Those: 2
Transport: 1
CO2 compensation: 2
Result: 10
Internet site:https://www.fijiwater.com/
Notes and other finalists:
Zephyr Hill Water
https://www.zephyrhillswater.com/sustainability
Nirvana Premium Natural Spring Water
Focused mainly on the sustainability of the water source.
https://www.nirvanawater.com/100-sustainable
people water
Marketed as an eco-friendly seventh bottle, the company name "People" is simply placed on the bottle. The last two components really have to do with the water itself. Eighth, People Water claims they only use 100% natural spring water. The final component is to keep the water Bisphenol A (BPA) free.
The company's main objective is to provide clean water to people in need, similar to Tom's shoes.
Broken.
Aquakarpatica
HEIM
Additional data:
