Eco-Friendly Boxed Wine and Non- Water Bottles - Save Our Environment Now
By GmaGoldie
Eco-Benefits of Boxed Wine and "Non Bottled" Water - POU Water
The Eco-footprint, the environmental impacts of packaging for wine and water, is making its way into our consciousness and our frugality. Society is beginning to recognize the beauty of nature and also the harm that humans instill upon the environment with our many conveniences.
Streamlining these conveniences with our consumption of wine and water will service our new found frugality and our new environmental consciousness. How and why for water and wine? – read on as we explore the advantages in this article.
What Dr. Vino Says About Box vs Bottle Wines
"I talk, teach and write about wine...This all started in my Ph.D. dissertation on the political economy of the wine industry in France and the United States. So yes, I am a real doctor—I don’t just play one on the web. On this site I make good value wine recommendations and also look at the world through the wine glass, bringing in diverse perspectives and lively reader contributions....
Box vs Bottle
Does a wine from a box taste any different from the same wine in a bottle?I recently led a tasting and we were able to put this question to the test. I poured the Domaine Grand Veneur, Cotes du Rhone, reserve, 2007 from a bottle (retail: $14) and a three-liter box ($45) and served them blind in two glasses.
The assembled group couldn’t really discern one from the other..."
Better Wines Better World
Switching from wines that come in a bottle to a box can save 55% of the carbon footprint and 85% less landfill space. source: Better Wines Better World - Favoring Box Wines to Lessen Our Carbon Footprint
Wine – We Have Choices – Boxed or Bottled
Conventional glass bottled wine uses significant quantities of natural resources and generates harmful pollution for our environment. The transportation alone is a burden in size and in cost.
Change Your Lifestyle - Change the World
Wine in Boxes Verses Bottles - Reduction in Emissions
Tyler Colman, a wine writer with Dr.Vino reports that “A standard wine bottle holds 750 milliliters of wine and generated about 5.2 pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions when it travels from a vineyard in California to a store in New York City. A 3-liter box generates about half of the emissions per 750 milliliters. Switching to wine in a box for the 97 percent of wines that are made to be consumed within a year would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 2 million tons.”
Shipping Boxed Wine Equals Half of Glass
Shipping wine in bottles is literally half the cost of shipping wine in bottles. This saves carbon emissions, lowers shipping costs and streamlines the distribution of wine which all too often travels from one side of the United States to the other. Produced in California, consumed in the Midwest and East coast, shipping is a significant part of the cost of delivering wine and the purchase price.
Frugality of Wine in Boxes over Bottles
Raised by my Grandparents and instilled with frugality, I love anything that offer frugality and still offer quality. Better yet, boxed wine offers better quality for a longer period of time.
My best friend from college first introduced me to boxed wine. She has always been environmentally concerned.
The point that won my attention was the extension of the time for maintaining its quality. Now I have learned even more and even am an fervant supporter. Here’s why - the vacuum packaging of boxed wines allows wines to last up to 6 weeks!
Production of Glass
According to the EPA, glass presents disposal problems and added shipping weight plus the actual production of glass generates nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and tiny particulates that we inhale.
Boxed Wine Not the Norm for Fine Wine
Sadly, despite the many benefits to the environment from a standpoint of shipping costs and freshness, boxed wines have not been able to transcend traditional bottled wine in the realm of fine wine. Progress is being made however. There is even a website to promote boxed wines Better Wines Better World - see the capsule at the right for the link to their Eco-friendly website.
Water – We Have Choices – Bottled or Home Filtered - AKA POU
For years, as a municipal director, I analyzed and established utility rates. I heard the arguments about bottle water and the lack of regulation. For years, I have avoided bottled water not just for those insightful reasons and also for the cost.
Drinking bottled water is costly; having the choices now of point of use (POUs) devices right at our own kitchen faucet at a fraction of the cost of bottled water is exciting. Add in the disinfecting qualities and this POU system is a clear frugal winner that is green too!
Point pf Use Options
For point ofuse options (POUs), we have reverse osmosis, carbon filters and now, my personal favorite, layered ozonated water that combines carbon filtration with ozone water – imagine having a disinfecting water right at your kitchen faucet that is healthy to drink!
All of these options eliminate the problems of plastic or glass bottles for disposal and for the generation of greenhouse emissions.
Safe & Effective Ozone Water - New POU System
Ozone water actually destroys bacteria, molds and viruses from the inside out. Unlike chlorine that attaches to the outside of surfaces and attacks from the outside in, ozone water is actually far quicker because its approach is borrowed from Mother Nature’s thunderstorms.
Layered Ozonated Water
Layered ozonated water combines the best of ozone water with carbon filtration that results in pure water and also water that disinfects.
Non-Chemical Disinfectant Option – Ozone Water
Besides throwing out plastic and glass bottles, now we have the potential of throwing out the many plastic containers for disinfection. Ozonated water will not eliminate basic cleaning supplies, but will service as a non-chemical disinfectant for those surfaces commonly plagued by bacteria – telephones, cell phones, kitchens and bathroom.
Meats & Seafood – A Safer Option – Chemical Free – Ozone Water
E. coli is a known menace in the food industry. Meats and seafood are especially susceptible. Additionally, meats and seafood are among the priciest of our many products for grocers, restaurants and for our families. By using an ozone rinse, we can extend the life of these perishable foods and also eliminate the potential of illness from E. coli reference video.
Whole Foods - Ozonated Water for Fighting Bacteria and Eco-Friendly Too!
Whole Foods has recognized the benefits of ozone water and has extended its use throughout all its facilities.
Whole Foods Expands Its Use of Ozonated Water
Fruits & Vegetables – Last Longer – A New Frugal Option
Reducing our carbon footprint is imperative for our future generations and for our current economy. By using ozone water for a non-chemical rinse, restaurants and grocery stores are quick to find that fruits and vegetables last longer. It is the bacteria that causes the aging and browning of our fruits and vegetables. A simple added step of an ozone rinse quickly and thoroughly removes bacteria which shortens the life of our expensive fruits and vegetables.
Wound Care – Non-Chemical Disinfectant Option
Ozonated water has been known to be an effective disinfectant since the 1840’s. Since ozonated water was initially unstable in duration and strength, since the 1930’s, ozonated water has been shunned here in the United States. Europe has continued to utilize and enjoy the benefits of ozonated water and many ozone therapies continue. With the stabilization of the technology, layered with high quality filters, the health benefits of layered ozonated water brings about an exciting new chapter in medical technology.
The greatest opportunity for this new health water, layered ozonated water, is wound care. Fighting bacteria, especially fighting drug resistant bacteria, such as the killer MRSA, is especially difficult. Borrowing technology from Mother Nature with ozonated water offers the medical community a whole new method of treatment. Saving time, saving money but, most importantly, saving lives from a known killer – MRSA is just one of the many benefits of ozonated water.
Layered Ozonated Water – A Frugal Health Option
Families seeking to make significant health improvements, fight bacteria, garner greater strength to those with impaired immune systems have an amazing new option for their home kitchen faucet – layered ozonated water.
The Ultimate Non-Chemical Bacteria Fighter – Ozone Water
Layered ordinated water helps those who need an improved immune system by destroying harmful bacteria. Our mouths contain millions of bacteria and a bacteria called cryptostephanus, most of these bacteria are not harmful, one kind, however, MRSA is a harmful bacteria that is resistant to drugs and can be deadly to those who have impaired immunity system – the elderly, the young, and those fighting diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Odors & Bacteria – Home, Mouth, Laundry
Ozone water is also well known to cut odors – in your mouth, in your laundry, etc… Many places uses ozone water as part of their cleaning progress in order to: 1.) Lessen the energy costs of hot water and 2.) Increase the power of the disinfectant and 3.) Eliminate odors.
Lessening Our Carbon Footprint
With all the new knowledge we have gained about the sensitivity of the environment and the harmful elements we are been dumping indiscriminately into our sensitive ecology's, we are now better equipped to impose a smaller strain upon the environment.
Our Part – Greater Frugality – Greater Environmental Consciousness
From wine to water, many options exist today for each of us to make informed decisions to not only help our families become more frugal but to also help reduce our carbon footprint.
Boxed wine and layered ozonated water are my two contributions for 2010 to add more health options to my personal health and the health of my family.
The ultimate non-chemical bacteria fighter – ozone water is beyond “alternative” medicine, it is a medicine that will quickly become mainstream.
Boxed wine, while contrary to our traditional paradigm of "bottled fine wine", is a fantastic new improvement - great for the environment and frugal too!
Treating your family to frugal options combined with the increased quality in both wine and water are exciting options for 2010 and beyond.
Comments
Rose,
Great point - you are absolutely correct - I didn't think of it in those concise terms - very well stated.
What about the plastic insert that holds the wine? Isn't that equal to the manufaturing of bottled water? Doesn't the wine in a box have to be transported as well? Not that I am not into saving the environment....
Just curious?
Would love an answer.
Laura,
Great question. A couple of items, first and perhaps the most important, he plastic inserts CAN be biodegradable. Hopefully the wine company has chosen this option. Second the inserts are much less demanding on the environment - they are thinner and take less oil for the production.
Here is a great new idea in regards to something that I have simply found annoying (and yes, it could also help the environment) - plastic sleeves for shipping wine....
here is the link from Dr. Vino
http://www.drvino.com/2010/02/23/wine-shippers-mat
Thank you very much for stopping by - I appreciate the question.
Laura,
Great question. A couple of items. First, I hope the wine box is using biodegradable plastic inserts. Second the plastic inserts are much thinner and demand less oil in the production - even IF the plastic (which I hope it is) is not biodegradable.
Interesting, speaking of plastic, there is a great new item to eliminate one of life's annoying and yet heavily utilized products - check out the plastic liners for shipping wine - here is a link for Dr. Vino - no styrofoam!
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Medical Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only. None of the products promoted or sold here are designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or ailment. Please contact your physician for additional information, diagnosis, testing, or advice on how to use the information/products listed on this site.
Copyright: © 2010 Gma Goldie All Rights Reserved - GmaGoldie loves to share her ideas but greatly appreciates credit for her hard work. Please email the author for permission for use of terms and ideas shared in this or other Gma Goldie articles on health, fitness and exercise.
FTC Disclosure: The author holds an MBA and is a certified personal trainer. She has held various leadership positions in major corporations and premier governmental agencies. She is the inventor of the patented EZ Swimmer - a fitness tool used in water aerobics to help target tone using your own body weight in the swimming pool. She loves to share her studies on health, fitness, the environment and filtered water. She has held various leadership roles including risk manager, Deputy Treasurer and most recently as Finance Director and Marketing Director. She maintains an active consulting practice specializing in strategic planning, finance and marketing.
Rose Barrett 2 years ago
It is interesting how we romanticize wine and become attached to the idea that wine has to be bottled. Great hub.