Bottled Water and The EnvironmentBottled Water and The EnvironmentSustainable Product DevelopmentStanford University

Luis Lorgio

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

LCA is a quantitative tool for analyzing LCA is a quantitative tool for analyzing consumption of resources (renewable & non-consumption of resources (renewable & non-renewable) and emission of wastes to the renewable) and emission of wastes to the environment (air, water, land) in a system, or in environment (air, water, land) in a system, or in a subsystema subsystem

Bottled water benefitsBottled water benefits Easy delivery of potable water:Easy delivery of potable water:

Disaster reliefDisaster relief Contaminated public/private water supplyContaminated public/private water supply No access to any other supplyNo access to any other supply Healthier than soda!Healthier than soda!

Report the resultsReport the results

RegulationsRegulations

Tap Water (EPA)Tap Water (EPA) Detailed Consumer Detailed Consumer

Reports (water source, Reports (water source, contaminant test contaminant test violations) to consumersviolations) to consumers

Microbial tests several Microbial tests several times per daytimes per day

Tests 4 times the number Tests 4 times the number of chemical contaminants of chemical contaminants as required by the SDWA as required by the SDWA

Bottled Water (FDA)Bottled Water (FDA) No reports to consumers No reports to consumers

are requiredare required Microbial Tests once per Microbial Tests once per

weekweek Tests for only ¼ of the Tests for only ¼ of the

chemical contaminants chemical contaminants listed by SDWAlisted by SDWA

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impactsof the bottlesof the bottles

Path To MarketPath To Market

(International Bottled Water Association)

What is a basin/aquifer, and why does it What is a basin/aquifer, and why does it matter if we pump water out of it?matter if we pump water out of it?

http://www.cleanwateroxford.org/watershed.htmhttp://www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk/page72g.htmlhttp://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwaquifer.html

Life Cycle Impacts: ProductionLife Cycle Impacts: Production

It takes 72 billion gallons of It takes 72 billion gallons of water per year just to produce water per year just to produce the the empty bottles empty bottles used for used for bottled water.bottled water.

))

Life Cycle Impacts: ProductionLife Cycle Impacts: Production

It takes It takes ~900 million gallons ~900 million gallons of oilof oil to make empty PET to make empty PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottles for bottles for bottled water.bottled water.

Life Cycle Impacts: DisposalLife Cycle Impacts: Disposal Many plastic bottles are Many plastic bottles are NOT being recycled.NOT being recycled.

Recycling rate has fallen Recycling rate has fallen from 54% in 1994 tofrom 54% in 1994 to 47.5% 47.5% in 2009.in 2009.

US consumes US consumes 50 Billion50 Billion 16- 16-ounce Polyethylene ounce Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles terephthalate (PET) bottles ((167167 bottles per person) bottles per person)

Water Follies (2002), Water Follies (2002), www.designinsite.dk, , msnbc, 2005; fast company.com (2007)msnbc, 2005; fast company.com (2007)

Plastics do not biodegrade, they Plastics do not biodegrade, they photodegradephotodegrade (They break into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic that are often still (They break into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic that are often still

very difficult to reincorporate into ecological systems.)very difficult to reincorporate into ecological systems.)

Life Cycle Impacts: DisposalLife Cycle Impacts: Disposal

Rethink water!Rethink water! Take home messagesTake home messages

Tap water is better regulated than bottled water, plus more Tap water is better regulated than bottled water, plus more environmentally and socially responsible (lower carbon footprint, environmentally and socially responsible (lower carbon footprint, less plastic pollution, not supporting mega corporations)less plastic pollution, not supporting mega corporations)

ActionsActions Carry your own water in a reusable BPA-free bottle, or just drink Carry your own water in a reusable BPA-free bottle, or just drink

from a glass or fountainfrom a glass or fountain If you have to buy a drink that comes in a plastic bottle, read the If you have to buy a drink that comes in a plastic bottle, read the

label (look for the water source and how it was treated), look for label (look for the water source and how it was treated), look for environmentally friendly bottles, and then REUSE the bottle several environmentally friendly bottles, and then REUSE the bottle several times before you recycle it!times before you recycle it!

RethinkRethink Water is essential to life… Should it be for sale?Water is essential to life… Should it be for sale?