Green Glossary: Boxed Water

Boxed water is not to confused with a musical Box of Rain. Rather, we're literally talking about water being sold in boxes.

The aptly named Boxed Water sells the H2O in a container they say is "far more sustainable than plastic bottled water. About 90% of the box is from a renewable resource, trees. The trees used to make our box come from certified, well managed forests. These forests remain healthy and stable through ongoing replanting while removing CO2 from the atmosphere." They add: "The creation and distribution of our box has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to plastic bottles, up to 80% lower in some cases."

Another boxed water purveyor is AQUA2GO® and they website informs us that their "packaging is sterile and keeps out light/air, resulting in extended shelf life of at least five years (even longer if the packaging is intact). Since exposure to light and temperature is not a factor, there are no requirements for storage. Unlike cans or bottles, the Tetra Brik™ Aseptic package is among the most sustainable packages on the market today. Approximately 75% of the package is made from paper—a renewable and renewed resource. AQUA2GO® is compact, lightweight, and can easily be flattened after use."

So, with the public becoming more aware about pitfalls of plastic bottles, maybe there's something to the box idea. Hey, it's worked well during a emergencies and we've sure got an eco-crisis on our hands now.