Posted on: 10/06/24 Posted by: Laura Dronfield
In recent years, the hospitality industry has undergone a profound shift towards sustainability, adopting new business practices to address the environmental impacts of the industry. However, one issue continues to plague the sector: single-use plastic water bottle consumption.
Each plastic bottle, once celebrated for its convenience, now carries a heavy burden—an environmental footprint that extends far beyond its useful life.
The life cycle of a plastic water bottle leaves a detrimental mark on our planet, encompassing production, transport costs, storage, and recycling. Research indicates that the total carbon footprint of one plastic water bottle amounts to approximately 828 grams of carbon dioxide. This might not sound like much, but in the context of a 100-room hotel that provides two free 0.5L water bottles per room daily, the number jumps to 165.6 kilograms of CO2, equivalent to driving a car 1,215 kilometres.
Production of plastic water bottles requires millions of oil barrels annually to meet demand, and emissions from manufacturers release tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. On top of this, most water bottles used are imported, travelling distances—some over 14,500 kilometres—to reach consumers. Although the distance may vary due to Australia’s location, 87% of plastics consumed are imported.
At the end of a plastic bottle's life cycle, only 36% are recycled in Australia, with the remaining 64% often improperly disposed of, taking over 1,000 years to decompose fully. With more than 300 million tons of plastic produced annually worldwide, half of which are single-use plastics like water bottles, the environmental toll is painting a grim picture.
Tackling this issue requires a major shift in how hospitality businesses provide water.
Purezza Premium Water offers sustainable water dispensing solutions and a bespoke, eco-friendly, re-usable bottle range that helps venues replace expensive pre-packaged bottled water.
With a vision to remove 30 million single-use bottles from landfills annually, Purezza provides hospitality venues a practical solution to reduce their reliance on single-use bottled water. By eliminating the need for shipping, delivery trucks, plastic production, and waste disposal, Purezza minimises the environmental impact associated with traditional plastic bottled water consumption.
As the hospitality industry continues its journey towards sustainability, solutions like Purezza's play a crucial role in reducing emissions and waste. By embracing innovative alternatives, hospitality businesses can lead the charge towards a greener, more environmentally conscious future—one refill at a time.
