6 Packaging Innovations in the Bottled Water Industry

When you picture water bottles, you remember those standard plastic bottles with a screw-on cap that people drink and toss. However, there have been multiple innovations for these packaged beverages particularly after knowing the effects of plastic containers to the environment.

Bottled water companies have been catching up with the times, and now offer various options for bottled water containers - from the eco-friendly aluminum bottles similar to ones used for soft drinks, to the innovative edible water pods currently offered in marathons for hydration on the go. Here are the top 6 innovative bottled water packaging thus far!

6 Bottled Water Packaging You Should Know

1. Aluminum Bottled Water Packaging

Aluminum bottled water is seen as the ideal alternative to plastic bottled water packaging, and according to the International Bottled Water Association, is one of the best bottled water packaging that is not only safe to drink from, but does not alter the taste or quality of the water as well.

Unlike the tin cans used in bottling soft drinks, aluminum bottles used as bottled water packaging is free from any plastic liner or plastic ingredients. These are made from pure aluminum, and are thus is a safe, recyclable, and lightweight packaging option.

Where to get yours: Get your own stock of aluminum bottled water at My Own Water - we make sure that our bottles are are pure as our drinking water, without any harmful ingredients, chemicals, or plastics involved in creating them. They are better for you, and better for the environment!

2. Biodegradable Plastic Bottles

Not all plastic bottles are harmful. There are plastic bottled water made with recyclable, reusable, and BPA-free plastics and plastic resin, such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET Plastic), are considered food safe, and have been used for decades as bottled water packaging.

There is, however, newfound interest in using BPA-free, biodegradable, and recyclable plastics like PET plastic, as consumers are increasingly concerned over the effects of plastic bottled water packaging on the environment and on human health. Plastics like PET plastic provide safer alternatives.

3. Paper Water Cartons

Select bottled water companies are now using paper cartons as bottled water containers, similar to juice cartons typically used to store other packaged beverages like fruit juice and milk. These are recyclable, and use less energy and resources to produce compared to plastic bottled water, but are just as durable and convenient to drink from.

Paper cartons, when used as bottled water packaging, is biodegradable as paper breaks down quickly, and is not contaminated with sugars and oils when only in contact with drinking water. However, paper cartons tend to easily break when wet, as manufacturers typically only line the interior with a waterproof liner.

4. Edible Water Packaging

Besides plastic, aluminum, and glass bottles, edible bottled water is another alternative to packaged drinking water. These are typically pods of pure drinking water coated with an edible peel. Consumers simply pop open the peel, and place the pod in their mouth to drink.

This concept is similar to popping boba, which uses sodium alginate and calcium chloride to create the caviar-like texture. Edible water pods have yet to hit the bottled water market due to issues with convenience as the pods need to be placed in a large container to carry around.

However, there are edible water packaging that replaces the plastic wrap around bulk bottles. These are made with algae, leftover plant material from making beer and wheat products, or other natural materials. They are edible to ocean and plant life, and biodegrade quickly when left uneaten.

5. Stackable Water Bottles

Most water bottles can only be stacked up when sealed and in bulk, which makes them difficult to store at home, in the office, or at the warehouse. Stackable water bottles provide a solution to this problem as many bottled water companies are now creating plastic bottles with stackable shapes and weight.

However, these are often made with plastic material, and are therefore non-biodegradable. These may also be made with PET container resources, but few manufacturers use eco-friendly raw materials for these purposes.

6. Collapsible Water Packaging

Lastly, there are collapsible water packaging that saves up on space and raw materials. These packaged drinks start off as typical bottles, but they collapse the less liquid is inside. These can be made with plastic packaging materials, silicone, biodegradable materials, recycled PET bottles, or other materials.

What Should You Choose?

Making a conscious effort to choose more eco-friendly, ergonomic, and overall better packaged beverage options helps you to shop smarter. For all your bottled water needs, look no further than My Own Water as our aluminum bottles are guaranteed to be high quality. Drink more and hydrate more when you choose My Own Water!