Voluntary sector, don’t bottle out

As the weather turns balmy people’s thoughts turn to summer holidays, leisurely weekends in the garden … and how to stay cool.

One thing they should think about is the cost of bottled water, not just the price – which is vastly higher than tap water – but the damage to the environment.

Bottled water uses up 300 times more energy in packaging and transportation than the stuff from your kitchen sink, and you still have to get rid of the plastic container.

Voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland may not be big users of bottled water, but every little bit helps to reduce our huge carbon footprint and we can set a good example.

The UK government is taking a lead by deciding to phase out the use of bottled water for meetings and other official business – from now on it will be a jug of water on the Cabinet’s big oval table.

Some departments have already stopped using bottled water for official meetings but the proposal is to extend the policy to all of them. DEFRA, for example, has saved on the 12,600 bottles it used in 2006 by turning on the tap.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell said:

For more information see www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.