Is Canned Water a Sustainable Option?

Source: Wikipedia (Sustainablebill) under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

Although it is often recommended from a sustainability perspective to minimize the consumption of single-use plastics (or any type of single-use packaging), there are situations in which they can fulfill a critical need.  One alternative that I would like to explore is water packaged in aluminum cans.  A quick introduction to this concept can be found in the following video:

Aluminum is a great option because it is not made from fossil fuels and can be recycled any number of times without losing quality.  In contrast, plastic relies heavily on fossil fuels and can only be recycled a limited number of times, each of which results in a significant reduction in quality.  Though glass represents a third alternative, it requires large amounts of materials and energy during production and, due to its higher weight, causes more emissions during transportation. Recycling glass also requires more energy than aluminum and plastic.

Given the above, the recycling rate of aluminum is higher than for plastic bottles (43% vs. 20%, respectively), with nearly 97% of recycled aluminum ending up as new cans, which is referred to as “closed-loop” recycling.  Though some plastic bottles are also recycled into new bottles (34%), most end up in other types of products (e.g., polyester in clothing) as a lower-quality plastic, which is referred to as “open-loop” recycling.  In addition, the conversion of a recycled aluminum can into a new can requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce a new can.  This compares well with plastic and glass, which require about 66% and 77%, respectively.

Another advantage of consuming and recycling aluminum cans over plastic and glass bottles is the fact that aluminum scrap is more valuable at $1,388 per ton; in contrast, recycled plastic and glass are valued at $215 and -$23 per ton, respectively. Therefore, by recycling aluminum you are essentially subsidizing the recycling of other materials.

One major concern with aluminum cans is that they require an inner liner to prevent metal corrosion and food contamination. These liners had commonly contained bisphenol A (BPA), which is a hazardous chemical that can lead to multiple types of health issues.  As a result, there are now a number of companies that sell food and drinks, including water, in cans containing a BPA-free liner, which reduces this concern. 

Another potential issue is cost. When bought in bulk, some brands of bottled water can cost as little as $0.02 to $0.04 per fluid ounce (Fl Oz), though some do cost up to $0.09 per Fl Oz. The cost of canned water in comparison typically ranges from $0.08 to $0.14 per Fl Oz. Therefore, as with most sustainability choices related to plastic alternatives, switching to canned water will require some adjustment to your budget, especially when purchasing large quantities.

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Helpful Hint

If you need to purchase packaged water, consider purchasing a brand that comes in a BPA-free aluminum can composed of a high percentage of recycled material (i.e., post-consumer waste).  Examples include Open Water (75%; Climate Neutral certified), Blue Can (45-70%), RAIN (up to 100%), and Proud Source (75%).

Also, if you or your work place needs to purchase large amounts of bottled water for emergency purposes, initiate or request a switch be made to canned water. Aluminum cans are a great option for emergency management because they do not break, they allow a much longer shelf life (up to 50 years) than plastic bottles, and they stack well for storage.

Sources: The Aluminum Association, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)