Sustainability is a journey. Believe it or not, our journey began 14 years ago. It’s been quite a ride from our launch as the first sustainable alternative to plastic water bottles to announcing our plant-based cap. We’re excited to announce the next iteration for our brand. Boxed Water™ achieved CarbonNeutral® product certification for our best-selling 500mL carton.
You’ve likely heard about carbon neutrality goals. The UN is striving to achieve a net zero world by 2050. Net zero means that you balance any carbon emissions produced by removing emissions. In a similar fashion, the CarbonNeutral® product certification for Boxed Water means that we measure and then offset the carbon emissions. How? We provide financial support to projects independently verified to reduce carbon emissions in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol. This year, our funds will go towards renewable energy projects globally. The carbon offsetting program is just one step towards improving the sustainability of our product and empowering you to lower your carbon footprint as well.
The road to CarbonNeutral® certified bottled water
The process of certification began with a lifecycle analysis of our carton. Independent researchers from Anthesis performed an assessment of the sourcing, production, distribution, and disposal of cartons compared to plastic bottles and aluminum cans. The results showed the sustainable superiority of our cartons with a lower total environmental impact compared with bottles and cans.
The study results calculated the carbon emissions of a carton. With this knowledge, we are able to offset the emissions of every 500mL sold.
Future opportunities include further reducing the carbon footprint of our product, offsetting the emissions from other products in our catalog, and looking at our overall company footprint. The word BETTER is in our name, so trust me when I say that we are constantly evaluating how we can improve. Have ideas? We always welcome your feedback.
In the meantime, we will continue to support projects that benefit our planet. Outside of the renewable energy projects, we will continue to invest in the programs close to our heart like planting trees and cleaning beaches. The need to both refill our National Forests and remove plastic pollution from our oceans is a big task. We hope you will support us in the ways that make sense for your life.
How to reduce your own carbon footprint?
Just like for us, a great first step is understanding your own carbon footprint. The EPA has a calculator to help you determine that number.
Of course, look for opportunities to choose carbon neutral products or services when you can. Companies across all industries are working together to help the planet. Many of our partners, like Alaska Airlines and SoulCycle are working towards ambitious carbon reduction goals.
If you can’t find a product that is carbon neutral, consider the overall carbon impact of a product. Plastic bottle companies, for example, want to focus on recycling (which in reality isn’t working), but the truth is that the overall carbon footprint tells the bigger story. For example, by switching from a monthly subscription of plastic bottled water to Boxed Water, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 130 pounds of carbon annually. It will take working together to maintain our planet for generations to come.
