With growing environmental concerns, brands are stepping up to be eco-friendly. In the world of beverages, sparkling water brands have been in the spotlight, both for positive and negative reasons. Among them, Drinkmate emerges as a leader, focusing on sustainability and zero-waste goals, while other popular brands lag behind.

Single-Use Plastics

The numbers surrounding single-use plastics are shocking. Eight million metric tons of plastics enter our oceans every year (Jambeck et al., 770). These plastics, often inclusive of beverage bottles, pose a direct threat to marine life and lead to the creation of massive oceanic garbage patches (Rajmohan et al., 72).

Plastic Footprint of Sparkling Brands

Most popular brands—while delivering on taste and carbonation, have been slower in adopting sustainable practices. They rely heavily on single-use plastics and cans that contribute to the mounting waste problem.

• Perrier

Known for its iconic green glass bottle, Perrier has diversified its packaging over the years. However, the introduction of their plastic PET bottles raised eyebrows among environmentalists. In 2019, it was reported that Perrier produced approximately 80 million plastic bottles (Valavanidis, 26).

• LaCroix

LaCroix's sparkling water primarily comes in cans. However, their limited edition plastic bottles launched in 2017 for specific markets, expanded their footprint in the single-use plastic sector. This led to an estimated 10 million plastic bottles that year (Boucher and Billard, 73).

• San Pellegrino

While often associated with their glass bottles, San Pellegrino also offers a plastic bottle lineup. By 2020, nearly 20% of their products were packaged in plastic, accounting for roughly 100 million plastic bottles annually (Tournier et al., 217).

Leading by Example

In the midst of this environmental concern, Drinkmate sets a positive example. Drinkmate refill cylinders come filled with food grade CO2.  They are also compatible with most SodaStream and other brands of soda makers using screw-in cylinders. 

Moreover, by opting for Drinkmate, consumers indirectly reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and production of countless single-use bottles.

The environmental crisis caused by single-use plastics is undeniable. As consumers are becoming aware, they're in search of brands that mirror their values. Drinkmate's proactive approach towards a sustainable, zero-waste future provides hope. By supporting and promoting such practices, we can aspire for a future where the sparkle of our oceans isn't dimmed by floating plastics.