Lose Your Bottle, Cut The Waste
Over 50% of the UK drink two billion litres of bottled water annually, and as the government considers monitoring domestic refuse and charging for excessive amounts, Aqua Optima reveals the real impact of our thirst for bottled water and how homeowners can reduce plastic refuse.
London, UK (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Homeowners recycle less than 10% of plastic waste. As the government considers monitoring domestic refuse and charging for excessive amounts, Aqua Optima reveals the real impact of our thirst for bottled water and how homeowners can reduce plastic refuse.
Over 50% of the UK drink two billion litres of bottled water annually and sales continue to soar. This can be attributed to a more health savvy public, combined with the convenience factor of being able to quench your thirst on the go. Yet industry experts are asking just what effect is this huge consumer demand having on the environment, our health and our pockets?
The facts:
| | - In the UK half of the three million tonnes of plastic produced each year is for the bottled water industry. Only 7% of plastic is recycled and a high percentage being used only once before being sent to landfill*
- Each plastic bottle takes 2,000 years to break down and degrade**
- Around a quarter of the 90 billion litres of bottled water drunk each year is consumed outside its country of origin. The resulting transportation or 'water miles' over long distances means increased burning of fossil fuels and thousands of tonnes of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere***
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Dr Richard Johnston, Chief Scientific Officer of Aqua Optima, said: "Even though some eco-conscious consumers may reuse their water bottle, this is only one small step. This doesn't address the waste generated in the manufacturing process and the huge amount of energy used in transportation and storage, which all impacts our environment.
"With the government's plans to monitor our refuse and an increasingly environmentally aware public, we should be looking for alternatives to bottled water. People may consider tap water yet there are ongoing concerns about its quality and many people simply do not like the taste. Using a water filter fridge jug or kettle are obvious alternatives to buying bottled water and help to improve the taste of your water."
Richard continues: "You should also look at the type of filter. We now produce a double life filter, which needs changing every other month rather than every 30 days, cutting waste by a further 50%. Water filters also remove some of the impurities often found in water, some of which cannot be seen or tasted such as lead and aluminium, providing cleaner, purer water."
The cost of buying bottled water each day is one that may irk some shoppers. To drink the recommended 2 litres per day, consumers would need to spend £310.25**** per year. The Aqua Optima Double Life cartridge costs just under £30 for a year's supply and provides over 1,200 litres of filtered water.
The Aqua Optima filter cartridges fit into a number of filter jugs and kettles from Sabichi, Kenwood, Russell Hobbs and Morphy Richards. They remove up to 95% of lead and up to 80% of chlorine and reduce herbicides and pesticides that can be found in water. Retailers include Robert Dyas, Wilkinsons and Argos. For further information on water filtration and products visit www.aqua-optima.com.
NOTES TO EDITORS
*Friends of the Earth
**www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/consumerwaste
***Friends of the Earth
****Based on SRP of 0.85p for a 2-litre bottle of bottled water.
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