Did you forget your water bottle at home? That’s OK! We now have sustainable options available for purchase here at the Garden.
In alignment with our exhibit Washed Ashore, we are making changes throughout the Garden to help all of us make sustainable choices. This particular change includes offering water in aluminum bottles instead of plastic bottles at the Kiosk. The aluminum bottled water has a screw-off cap, making it reusable(!) and aluminum can be recycled an infinite amount of times. So whether you choose to reuse or recycle it, you are still making a sustainable choice.
Why does it matter? Plastic water bottles are some of the most commonly found single-use plastic items in landfills and waterways. When plastic breaks down, physically and chemically, it releases harmful toxins into the environment. Even if plastic bottles find their way to the recycler, they can only be recycled 2-3 times before the quality decreases so much, the resulting material can no longer be used for manufacturing. By using a reusable, aluminum bottle, you eliminate the need for a plastic one.
How can you help? Try to limit your usage of single-use plastics by choosing reusable substitutes that can be washed and then refilled, like the new water bottles at the Kiosk. If a reusable option is out of the question, opt for products made of infinitely recyclable materials (glass and aluminum) or materials that are biodegradable or compostable (paper and wood).
When choosing a brand of aluminum water, we chose Open Water, the first bottled water company to be climate-neutral certified throughout their entire supply chain. Per Open Water’s website, “That means that we are measuring, reducing, and offsetting all of the emissions that we create as a company, from powering our team’s computers to producing and shipping our bottles and cans.”
In addition to offering water in reusable aluminum bottles, the kiosk also offers reusable utensil kits that can be kept in your bag or car for easy access.
Thank you for joining us on our mission for a more sustainable future. To learn more about sustainability and the Garden in general, take our Washed Ashore Adventure Tour! Click here for tickets.
