The eco guide to bottled water | Lucy Siegle

Buy local, look for companies giving something back - or go back to basics

In 2012 the University of Vermont bravely banned bottled water on campus. It backfired - the number of plastic bottles rose by 6% as students went for soft drinks and juices, increasing their plastic consumption. Eco-friendly bottled water sounds like an oxymoron. But this cautionary tale suggests that sometimes it's most pragmatic to find the most ethical bottled H₂O.

Water miles remain indefensible. Over 20% of water sold in the UK is sourced overseas though we have our own aquifers. What's more, bottled water companies here tend to invest in keeping the land pristine to comply with anti-pollution regulations. The land around Ty Nant's spring in Wales has a large tree-planting programme, while Highland Spring is sourced from certified organic land in the Ochil Hills, Perthshire. So go local and help the environment.