Mineral water generates as much CO2 as all German air traffic

Bottled mineral water consumes around 1.5 times as much CO2 as the entire domestic German air traffic. The solution: drink tap water. We explain what makes mineral water so harmful to the environment and whether you can drink tap water without hesitation.

Three million tons less CO2 per year? What initially sounds utopian is theoretically very simple. Because we only have to do one thing: drink tap water instead of mineral water.

As a study proven, the consumption of mineral water consumes around 1.5 times as much CO2 as all domestic German air traffic.

This is how high the CO2 emissions of mineral water are

The non-profit organizationa tip:tap” is therefore committed to tap water consumption and against packaging waste and wants to promote an ecologically sustainable way of life. He commissioned the investigation in 2020.

The goal: to find out how much CO2 people in Germany could save if they switched from bottled to tap water. To do this, the experts went through all the process steps to record the specific greenhouse gas emissions of different waters.

Mineral water: The process steps in production

It turned out that mineral water already requires many more process steps during production than drinking water from the tap. And above all because the water is additionally cleaned and bottled after the treatment.

The production of the corresponding bottles, the transport to the supermarket and the way home from the store also play a role in the calculation of emissions. The disposal of empty bottles is also part of the process.

CO2 emissions: Tap water is almost 600 times better than mineral water

Overall, the CO2 emissions calculations show that bottled water produces 202.74 grams of CO2 equivalent per liter. Tap water, on the other hand, only has 0.35 grams of CO2 equivalents per liter. This means that the water from the tap performs 586 times better than the variant from the bottle. The conclusion of the study:

So if you look at the difference between drinking and mineral water (202.39 g CO2 equivalents per liter) and extrapolate this to the annual consumption of bottled water by Germans (currently 181.4 l) and the number of inhabitants (83,020,000), it becomes clear: It works here by three million tons of CO2.

Jan Böhmermann draws attention to the mineral water problem

That already explained how harmful the production and consumption of mineral water actually are ZDF Neo Magazin Royal. Satirist Jan Böhmermann not only went into the results of the study, but also drew attention to the general water situation in Germany.

However, he did not only address the climatic imbalance and climate change, which we are now also feeling in our country. Böhmermann also criticizes water suppliers and well builders Viva con Agua.

Viva con Agua: Part of the bottled water problem?

The Hamburg organization is actually committed to access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. With numerous projects and campaigns, Viva con Agua spread the motto “Water for everyone – everyone for water” – in Germany and abroad.

What was supposed to be a noble mission got caught in the media crossfire because of Böhmermann’s water episode. In addition to the mineral water production, the satirist also criticized the lack of a works council and the poor payment of the employees in the Schleswig-Holstein bottling station.

Viva con Agua builds hotel

The moderator also criticized the entrepreneurial construct behind Viva con Agua. For example, Villa Viva Gasthaus GmbH & Co. KG wants to open a new hotel in Hamburg in 2023.

In the project description states that it is to be a social inn that “builds wells”. At least 140 overnight beds are planned on 12.5 floors. The visitors would “do good while they sleep” and “support drinking water projects worldwide with every overnight stay”. Böhmermann mentions that guests would have to pay €299 per night to stay at the hotel.

Viva con Agua defends itself against Böhmermann criticism

Viva von Agua responded to the allegations with one official statement. In it, the organization points out that it fully supports drinking tap water in Germany.

There is even a corresponding note on the back labels of the company’s own bottles. The bottled water offered is a social alternative on the mineral water market – for people who don’t want to drink tap water.

The employees in the filling station, on the other hand, have not yet asked for the formation of a works council. In addition, people would be paid according to applicable industry standards.

In relation to the criticism of the emerging Hamburg hotel, Viva con Agua meanwhile believes that it is serving a social vision and that the business model can be used to positively shape the future. It is also possible to stay overnight on the camping floor for as little as 19.10 euros. With every overnight stay, the guests would support the work of the association.

CO2 emissions from mineral water: that’s what the consumer advice center says

But back to the actual topic: mineral water vs. tap water. If people in Germany were to do without mineral water, three million tons of CO2 could be saved. All they had to do was switch to tap water.

However, the question is: is it safe to consume tap water? The Consumer Center answers: Yes! Tap water is an ideal thirst quencher. It is of good to very good quality everywhere in Germany and can be drunk without hesitation.

In addition, tap water is about 100 times cheaper than bottled mineral water. And the water from the tap has another advantage: you don’t have to carry it around.

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