In Germany, around two million disposable plastic bottles are consumed every hour. According to Deutsche Umwelthilfe e. V., the consumption of disposable plastic bottles in Germany alone amounts to a good 17 billion disposable plastic bottles per year. Anyone traveling for business or pleasure can choose a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to buying mineral water in some regions of Germany via the so-called refill project.
Fill up instead of throwing away
Translated, “refill” simply means “refill”. This refers to the filling of drinking water. The Refill project started in Hamburg in spring 2017 and has since spread rapidly across Germany. And the trend is rising. The project ideas are simple and plausible. Drinking enough water is important for your body’s health. Having your own drinking bottle protects the environment and saves money. True to the motto: a small effort by one person has a big impact for many. Instead of buying new mineral water in plastic bottles on the go, you can easily refill your own drinking bottle with tap water free of charge at refill stations.
“Refilling” is simple and free of charge
A blue sticker with a drop of water, the official refill logo, on stores, cafés and institutions indicates the offer. Refill also provides a Germany-wide overview of the cities where water refills are available. A total of 332 refill stations and 75 fountains and drinking water columns are already in operation in Germany. The water stations are already widespread, particularly in the greater Hamburg, Berlin, Hanover, Cologne and Düsseldorf areas. As tap water is safe to drink almost everywhere in Germany, the refill stations offer a good and ecologically sensible alternative to buying mineral water. Incidentally, the idea for the project originated in England. The initiator of the project, which was launched in Hamburg, was inspired by the refill stations in the English city of Bristol.
Disposable plastic bottles are an extreme environmental problem
On average, every German citizen consumes 207 single-use plastic bottles per year. As a result, around 500,000 tons of plastic waste are produced in Germany every year from disposable bottles alone. According to the German Federal Environment Agency, it can take up to 450 years for a plastic bottle to decompose. In addition to the mountains of waste created by 17 billion disposable plastic bottles, immense resources are consumed. According to Deutsche Umwelthilfe, the production of plastic bottles requires 500,000 tons of plastic, 665,000 tons of crude oil and 11 billion kilowatt hours of energy per year. In addition, there are emissions of around 1.25 million tons of CO2. This places an enormous burden on the environment and the climate. Having your own refillable drinking bottle made of BPA-free, durable plastic, glass or stainless steel can therefore make a huge contribution to protecting the environment. What’s more, the purchase costs are significantly cheaper in the long term than buying bottled mineral water all the time.
Another drinking water tip for on the go: public drinking water fountains are making a comeback in many cities after decades. These wells and their tap water are regularly and intensively monitored. Here, too, you can fill up your own water bottle on the way.
