Bottled Water?

Hi Kate,

I know that bottled water is not eco-friendly, but it is so convenient. Is there a green option that makes sense?

Thanks,

Pam

Answer

Hi Pam,

Thank you for writing. I talk about bottled water in the Guest Comfort section of The Green Bride Guide, because your question highlights a common dilemma.

The following an excerpt from an entry I wrote for Get Married. It starts with a quick review of the environmental impacts of bottle water and offers a few green solutions. Hope it helps!

Quick Bottled Water Facts

Energy use - According to The Container Recycling Institute the amount of energy it take to make the 8.25 billion gallons of bottled water Americans drink each year could provide enough electricity for 250,000 homes or could fuel 100,000 cars.

Landfill space - Despite our best efforts, 4 out of 5 bottles end up in the landfill.

Image from www.blueorchidblog.com

Safety - Bottled water is actually less safe than tap water in most parts of the country. Tap water is regulated by the FDA but most bottled water isn't. One study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that almost one-third bottled water contains contaminants (including synthetic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic).

What You Can Do

Offer pitchers of water to your guests - it is more elegant, more eco-friendly and less expensive. Have your caterer add fresh slices of organic lemon, lime, or cucumber for a fresh summer taste.

Image from The Kitchn

If you want to give your guests bottle water, pick brands that use corn-based plastic like Belu and Biota or companies that are giving back, like Ethos (which donates five cents per bottle to charity). Whatever bottles you use - make sure someone is in charge of collecting and recycling them after the event.