| As a society, we are more environmentally | | | | consumption and greenhouse gasses considerably |
| conscious than ever before. Everywhere you look | | | | - 85 percent and 79 percent respectively. These |
| there is mention of recycling and Earth Day, of | | | | savings still held true in the worse possible |
| saving money and saving the ozone. Oregon's | | | | circumstances, such as if the bottle is washed |
| Department of Environmental Quality recently | | | | often in an older model dishwasher that is not as |
| conducted an analysis of the environmental | | | | efficient as a newer one might be. |
| effects of drinking tap water versus bottled | | | | The conclusions also revealed that using best-case |
| water. Their conclusions showed that recycling, | | | | scenarios for both tap water and bottled water - |
| while beneficial, may not be the best option. | | | | one in which a light-weight bottle is used and |
| DEQ compared the effects of drinking tap water | | | | recycled - tap water still beat out bottled water, |
| in reusable bottles, like those available from Back | | | | which had environmental costs that were 46 |
| 2 Tap, against the potential damage to the | | | | times greater. |
| environment caused by the "production, | | | | DEQ recommends that if consumers must |
| packaging, and transportation of bottled water," | | | | purchase bottled water, they should seek out |
| according to Scott Learn in The Oregonian. | | | | brands with minimal packaging, such as bottles |
| While, obviously, recycling water bottles is more | | | | which use the thinnest plastic. Also, choose a |
| beneficial to the environment than throwing them | | | | water that is bottled locally; costs to the |
| away, it is still better to just drink from the sink | | | | environment will increase considerably in relation to |
| to begin with. Drinking bottled water increases | | | | the distance the product is shipped. |
| greenhouse gas emissions 46 times more than | | | | So do your part to help the environment: leave |
| drinking water from the tap. The study showed | | | | the bottled water at the store and use your |
| that drinking tap water in a reusable bottle, such | | | | kitchen sink instead. |
| as Back 2 Tap's stainless steel bottle, cuts energy | | | | |