by Liz Perrone
The Poland Spring Eco-Shape bottle features a label that’s a third smaller than the previous one, is more flexible for easy crushing during recycling, and is made with 30 percent less plastic than its competitors. The new bottle also emits less carbon dioxide because it requires less energy for production.
After extensive research and taking into account the raw materials used to obtain and bottle the water, Voss was able to create an eco-friendly product. The aquifer used to retrieve its water is pressurized so the water rises naturally through the ground, eliminating any machinery use.
For every recyclable Ethos bottle purchased, the company will donate five cents in hopes of raising $10 million by 2010. That amount will provide about 420,000 people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with the chance to drink clean water, as well as information on hygiene and sanitation.
In December 2008, Aquafina sponsored a program that turned 189 million recycled bottles into 250,000 jackets for children at 100 schools. Removing the base pads of 24-packs, reducing labels by 40 percent and plastic by 50 percent, and having a completely recyclable bottle reduces 40 million pounds of greenhouse gases while also removing 13 million pounds of packaging annually. Lastly, over 280 million gallons are saved per year with their water-recovery system.
When nondisposable water bottles like SIGG, Gaiam, Klean Kanteen, and the corn resin water bottle with carbon filters are used, the number of plastic bottles in landfills decreases tremendously. The 100-percent recyclable bottles are toxin- and metal-free, making water pure and healthy. These bottles are sustainable, affordable, and can last up to 20 years.
Fun Fact 1: To promote Earth Month and a plastic-free environment, SIGG provided reusable bottles to models backstage at London Fashion Week. This year SIGG worked with Aveda to produce a one-of-a-kind Aveda and SIGG for Earth Month 2009 bottle, which can be used at the Aveda Walk for Water event on April 22 around the Thames River in the U.K.
Fun Fact 2: Using corn to make water bottles has been a controversial topic. Although ethanol can be a great biofuel alternative, some feel that ethanol costs more energy to produce and that it drives up the cost of other foods. What do you think? To read more about the corn controversy, visit the sites below:
