Eco-Rules for Summer Beverages

Summer is coming and it’s going to be getting hot. I’m betting you and your family will be consuming lots of beverages to stay cool and hydrated. Staying hydrated is important, but so is staying green. Use these tips below to keep your summer drinks healthy and green.

WATER TIPS:

Water is hands down the healthiest summer beverage, but as plain as it is, water has the potential to cause some serious eco-harm.

• Avoid buying plastic bottled water 100% of the time. There’s nothing better about bottled water, and lots of problems with it. The bottles are made of non-renewable resources. The manufacturing process is resource heavy. Plus research shows that folks don’t recycle their bottles.
• Drink tap water first; and filtered only if your city water supply is iffy. Most water in the U.S. is safe enough to drink filter free. Filters aren’t recyclable (yet), so only use one if you actually need one. You can check your city water safety via a city annual water quality report at the EPA.
• If the only thing about your water that’s bad is the taste, fill a container with water and allow it to sit out before you drink it. Most of the time, the only taste issue with H2O is chlorine, which evaporates after sitting out.
• To have chilly water all summer, fill a pitcher and leave it in your fridge or use ice. This way you aren’t running water down the drain as you wait for it to get cold.

OTHER ECO-BEVERAGE TIPS:

• No matter what you’re drinking carry a reusable drinking bottle.
• Take an extra reusable bottle in your car for when you stop for beverages.
• Avoid beverages with extra packaging. Beverages don’t need to be in a can, in a box, then shrink-wrapped. Seriously.
• If you buy powdered mixes, buy the largest size possible to cut down on packaging.
• Buy beverages in glass or aluminum containers first, plastic second. If you buy plastic containers make sure your local recycling company actually recycles them. Not all center recycle colored plastic. Clear is far better if you do buy plastic containers. Of course, always buy the largest container possible.
• If your kiddos want small drinks skip juice boxes and get them their own small reusable water bottles.

[image via stock.xchng]