To understand the negative impacts in consumption of water from water bottles, you must first understand the "life cycle" system.
Water is naturally obtained, then sent to factories to where they get bottled, sold in the mart, and used whenever and wherever. But, where do these bottles go for disposal? They are claimed to be recycled but are actually hoarded in India where mountains of down-cycled bottles become of no use. Has that stopped you drinking water bottles yet?
Bottled water is not guaranteed to be recycled, most students here in Gainesville are seen to be throwing it in trash cans and some will throw it everywhere else. The solution for water bottle consumption is to stop buying them. We must invest in public water infrastructure, prevent pollution and make more drinking fountains available. Refillable water bottles should be used. Do not reuse plastic water bottles because it can be harmful. If bottles are left out under the sun, the plastic may melt and contaminate the water.
Why is it that the consumer prefers a product that is "less sustainable, less tasty, and highly expensive?" As the video explains, the media has changed our perception of water. People think, "tap water is gross!" In most places tap water is generally better for you than the bottle.
"Say 'no' to bottled water!"
Nice job on the blogposts! I think both your biomimicry post and the plastic bottle post were really great..!
ReplyDeleteI've found a lot of issues that many people have with bottled water companies in Florida. The plentiful spring and aquifer system provides us with both our drinking water and places for us to go relax is being targeted by these companies. Many of the bottled water companies pump from our aquifer, depleting them at an even further unsustainable rate, and then sell it across the United States, and even back to us. Investment in infrastructure and the expulsion of these companies could greatly help Florida's aquifers and water quality while also eliminated the waste that these bottles generated as you mentioned in your post.
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