Should Airlines Give Bottled Water to Flyers?

Those damn Plastic Cups. I don't promote bottled water, but the plane is a place where it actually might make sense. At the end of one long-haul flight you can easily find yourself with five one-time use plastic cups on your hands. Five! And there's a good chance all of this junk is going straight to a landfill, as few airlines recycle. And the airlines that do have recycling programs, such as Delta, only do it for certain routes.

Now let's think about this a bit: These cups, filled from a bottle to start with, are probably packaged with a group of their identical flimsy friends in a plastic cardboard box, with a whole bunch of other cardboard boxes on a pallet, itself wrapped in plastic. And the pallet was probably shipped via a big truck, or boat its place of origin. That's one ridiculous footprint.

If passengers just receive one reusable cup -- or better yet, the bottle and no cup -- during a long flight, you effectively remove an entire chain of waste.

Going the dreaded bottled water route might be better here, but it's still lacking...we need a real solution. Have an idea? Comment below!

More on Disposable Cups from TreeHugger
::I am Not a Paper Cup
::Bring Your Own: Reusable Bags, Cups & More

More on Bottled Water from TreeHugger
::A World of Reasons to Ditch Bottled Water
::Pablo Calculates the True Cost of Bottled Water

Photo: Vanessa Berberian/Getty Images

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Comments

[erichvieth]

10:40 AM on 06/20/2008

You've offered false alternatives. There is another option. Bring an empty bottle with you and fill it up at the drinking fountain after you get past security. I do this all the time. BTW, I use a cyclist water bottle--it's a bit bigger than many bottled water bottles.

If you refuse this technique because you're embarrassed to be carrying around an empty water bottle before going through security, you're not serious about the environment.

Erich Vieth - http://dangerousintersection.org/

[avicenna]

03:59 AM on 06/20/2008

I always have my fresco (nonplastic) water bottle tucked into my backpack pocket. Those who really care about reducing waste would really advocate the BYOB approach - just as we've done with reusable grocery bags and coffee mugs (at least in Vancouver, Canada). They can promote this by giving a promotional item or snack to those who come with their own beverage containers - as it would certainly save the airlines the trouble and cost down the line. (note: the container should be empty when boarding - thoughts of hydrogen and explosions will ensue otherwise).

[querencia]

12:02 AM on 06/20/2008

my idea is- have free filtered water taps at all the gates or restrooms with bottles available for those who don't have an empty one they brought thru security (they will mostly let you hang on to an empty). This would reduce the bottles, yet make filtered water available. Then the only hitch is for a really longggg flight. Then you need a few and where would you put them? Free because hey- they have free interne at the gates in Singapore... US is SO third world these days in comparison!

[Idytme]

06:13 PM on 06/19/2008

Yes, absolutely this is when you use bottled water. The water holding tanks for airlines can be filthy. It was recommended by some never to drink airline tap water - and that even included coffee - which I won't give up on long flights.
You need a few bottles of water to get you through a flight. It dehydrates you. Don't feel environmentally guilty about bottled water on an airplane.

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/aviation/dn8187
Dangerous levels of bacteria have been found in drinking water aboard 15% of planes at US airports, an investigation carried out by the US Environmental Protection Agency has found.

[psf]

06:10 PM on 06/19/2008

If they get a spray hose like the one here:

http://www.danase.com/p2resphofor5.html

and a extra large jug, on wheels, you wouldn't need bottles or cups, they could just pray it right in your mouth.