In honor of World Water Week we're dedicating this week's blog post to the precious liquid blue gold itself!
In the past few months we have been noticing a growing behavioral trend of individuals toting around milk carton-like containers of water. While the packaging was certainly something new to see on the market, the bold, declaratory statement is what really caught our attention -- "BOXED WATER IS BETTER." Intrigued to find out what this was all about we did a little research to become up to date on the latest water craze and we have to say this one has some good reasons.
Surprisingly the company which shares its product's moniker has been around for 6 years (located in Michigan). They set out with a goal to serve as a "solution to the drastic environmental cost exacted by our excessive consumption of plastic bottled water" (Kyle Jenkins, Millennial Magazine). In 2014 Boxed Water took in $1.5 million dollars worth of revenue which confirms their strong and growing presence in the global bottled water market (of which 60% of bottled water consumption occurrs in the US). Boxed Water is currently distributed throughout 28 states as well as Canada and Mexico, occupying prominent shelf space in specialty stores and supermarkets such a Whole Foods and Costco. With its direct approach and influential messaging, Boxed Water Is Better has been able to dip into a pool of consumers who are in turn making a more conscientious decision when it comes to buying packaged water. We've learned that Boxed Water Is Better is in fact just that and here's why --
Boxed Water has many environmental benefits:
Packaging: 76% of the Boxed Water carton has been made with paper sourced from certified, sustainably managed forests and 100% of the product is recyclable. Unlike PET water bottles which live on in landfills for a thousand years, "[Boxed Water] is not made to last forever" (Jeremy Adams, VP of Marketing for Boxed Water Is Better).
Shipping: Boxed Water cartons are shipped out flat to its filling plants. 35,000 flat packed cartons can fit on one pallet and fill up to 26 trucks after the cartons are filled with water. In comparison, pre-formed plastic water bottles take up only one truck's worth of the same amount of space! The rectangular shape also lends agreeably to saving space, allowing for effortless stacking -- something that doesn't compute well with cylindrical plastic bottles.
Production: "Boxed Water is as clean and healthy for the body as it is for the environment" which is a result of its production technique of "reverse osmosis and carbon-filtered purification at the source of the filling plant" (Kyle Jenkins, Millennial Magazine).
Planting: "Fueled by a social media blitz that offers Boxed Water consumers the opportunity to collectively advocate a green-friendly culture," Boxed Water partnered with the National Forest Foundation in April "to plant one million trees over the next five years." Dubbed the "Retree" project, Boxed Water consumers are encouraged to "post a picture with Boxed Water on a social media platform (sporting the hashtag #Retree) and the National Forest Foundation will respond by planting two new trees for each post." A goal has been set to plant 100,000 trees by the end of the year, which will "increase forest diversity, provide wildlife habitat and increase the forest's resilience to climate change" (Kyle Jenkins, Millennial Magazine).
Water is an extremely precious resource, a reminder that has become more apparent with the severe droughts and current water crisis many communities are experiencing. And while convenience water is a product in which we all should make greater efforts in refraining from buying in the first place, Boxed Water Is Better clearly seems to be the best ecological and most sustainable option offered today. So when you are in a bind and have to purchase packaged water, let that bold black messaging drive your decision and don't forget to #Retree a little love to the planet.
To learn more about the #Retree project visit: boxedwaterisbetter.com/retree
Sources:
Is Boxed Water Actually Better? - CityLab
The Environmental Benefits of Boxed Water - Millennial Magazine
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