Waste Free Bottled Water

Think drinking bottled water cannot be environmentally friendly? Think again. Every year, we recycle hundreds of tons of plastic and cardboard. But it’s not what you think. We are not recycling single-use plastic bottles. We are recycling 5-gallon bottles that are reused up to 50 times! Read this article to learn how our customers enjoy sustainable water solutions for their homes and businesses. And you can too!

The biggest offender of waste is single-use water bottles. Although this option is a phenomenal alternative to soda, it is a disposable item. Consumption of these on-the-go bottles has risen in recent years. They are cheap and we are more aware of the health benefits of drinking water.

Our supplier of 16-ounce bottles has made award-winning changes to their packaging. The bottles are 100% recyclable, and they have a thinner body. Plus, a smaller cap and label – reducing the amount of plastic right out of the gate.

This reduction of plastic offers a two-fold benefit. First, less plastic from the start. Second, the lighter weight allows more per delivery, reducing vehicle emissions. Also, the case is wrapped in a state-of-the-art Eco-Air manner. This process eliminates the need for full coverage or a cardboard liner. The rest is up to you, and we like what you are doing. 

Bottled water drinkers are among the highest participants in recycling programs. It has become even easier with 90% of our communities now offering curbside recycling. Drop-offs are more prevalent than ever. Municipalities are beginning to place recycling cans in busy locations. But, we can’t stop there. Although bottled water only accounts for less than 1% of all plastics produced in the US, we have to do our part. And by doing our part, we mean recycle, recycle, recycle. 

Are There Zero Waste Drinking Water Options?

Now for our favorite part- zero-waste bottled water. Yes, it does exist. There are two alternatives when it comes to zero-waste water. The first is a bottled water cooler. The large bottles, often called carboys, dispense through a bottled water cooler. These bottles are reused 30-50 times! Then we recycle them at the end of their life. We bundle and recycle the bottles, caps, and cardboard they come in.

Also, our water dispensers have a long life. We have created a system that keeps the production of new water coolers to a minimum. When a water cooler does finally reach the end of its life, it is scrapped (again with a local vendor), and the parts repurposed.

Can You Buy Local Bottled Water?

Our water source is local, our plant is in downtown Cleveland, and our delivery routes are optimized to cut driving distance. All new vehicles added to our fleet are large, enabling us to deliver more fresh water on each trip. Also, our drivers turn their vehicles off when idling, further reducing emissions.

As you can see a bottled water dispenser is an excellent sustainable water solution for your home or business. Pair a dispenser and 5-gallon bottles with a reusable water bottle, and you have waste-free water on the go.

Are Bottle-less Water Dispensers Waste Free?

Another choice for environmentally friendly drinking water is a filtration system. Water filters are often in earth-friendly locations such as health food stores and spas. But, many of our customers use them in their homes and businesses as well. Our in-line filtration systems treat your source water, eliminating the need for a bottle. You must change the filter periodically (as little as once a year). These units are scrapped at the end of their life as well.

Watch this video to learn about Distillata’s plastic water bottle recycling program.

More information about environmentally friendly bottled water:

• Sustainable Drinking Water Solutions
• Sustainable Water Delivery: How you can Help
• Why Buy Local?