May 30, 2008

Eco Drink Friday: Primo Corn Plastic Bottled Water

We have all been scared about BPA in plastic water bottles, and we know that petroleum-based plastic water bottles are bad for the environment; however, there are times when even the most eco-minded individual needs to buy bottled water. As a rare consumer of bottled water, I am glad that now I have a choice with Primo Purified Water. Primo uses corn-based, BPA-free, #7 plastic and advertises it as an "American Grown Bottle". According to the Green Guide, this is a harmless variety of plastic:

All plastic polymers created after 1987 are labeled with the same number, #7 Other. So while your Nalgene reusable bottle is made from polycarbonate and labeled a #7, your new corn-based, compostable plastic dinner plates and cups are also labeled #7. Several plastic types fall under the #7 label including polyethersulfone (the resin used in new bisphenol A-free plastic baby bottles) and polylactic acid (corn- and other starch-based resins). If you are concerned about hormonal effects from PC plastics, look for the letters "PC" which may be in place of (or alongside) the #7 code on the bottom of your containers.

Since #7 plastics are designed to be reused, unlike the typical #1 PET crude oil plastic water bottles, you can keep refilling your Primo bottle with your own tap water.

Primo water is available in 16.9-oz bottles, as well as three- and five-gallon water cooler jugs that are not corn-based. The corn used to make the Ingeo plastic in the smaller bottles is not genetically modified, and the bottles can be recycled. Of course, it is better to use your own Klean Kanteens than to buy disposable water bottles, but when the need arises for bottled water, now you have an eco-friendly choice.