Hyatt Hotels has taken a very creative approach to enlist the help of visitors in Hyatt’s green-ing efforts. They are asking groups that book meetings at their hotels to commit to 10 green tasks and in turn Hyatt will give them a 3% rebate…and one of the 10 steps is (drum roll please) BAN THE BOTTLE!

We love anything that gives people a further incentive to stop their bottled water consumption (although saving the earth should be motivation enough). A few of the other tasks are – Recycling, Eat Local and Use Reusable Products.

Great steps to encourage people to take their green efforts on the road. To see all the steps – Hyatt Green Efforts

Bottled water is healthy water – or so marketers would have us believe. Just look at the bottled water labels or ads: deep, pristine pools of spring water; majestic alpine peaks… In reality, bottled water is just water; however, that fact isn’t stopping people from buying a lot of it. Here are some solid reasons to kick the bottled water habit.

Via: Term Life Insurance

Today, Canadians across the country are participating in Canada’s first Bottled Water Free Day. Organised by the Canadian Federation of Students, Sierra Youth Coalition and the Polaris Institute, Bottled Water Free Day is intended to raise awareness about the negative impacts of bottled water.

“Across the country students are standing up against the wasteful bottled water industry,” said Noah Stewart, National Deputy Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “Tired of having to pay Coca Cola, Pepsi or Nestle for a drink of water we’re calling on schools to ban the sale of bottled water and re-invest in water fountains.”

Highlights of Bottled Water Free Day include:

• Events on more than 60 university and college campuses across the country;
• An announcement that Ryerson University will stop selling and distributing bottled water;
• The public release of documents, obtained through an Access to Information request, showing that the CBC spent nearly $500,000 on bottled water between 2004 and 2008.

“The success of Bottled Water Free Day shows the strength of the back-to-the-tap movement,” says Elly Adeland, Water and Energy Campaigner for the Polaris Institute. “Bottled Water sales in North America have plummeted and across the country Canadians are pledging to kick the bottle – clearly the tap is making a comeback.”

Bottled Water Free Day is taking place after years of escalating bottled water backlash in Canada. To date 76 municipalities, 4 municipal associations (including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities), 8 school boards, 5 university campuses and countless businesses have implemented restrictions on bottled water.

For a full list of events and endorsing organisations visit: www.bottledwaterfreeday.ca

[via polarisinstitute.com]

What a great way to start 2010, with a new portable water bottle! And when we say portable, we mean portable! This water bottle can fit and fold into almost any space!

The Vapur bottle is a flexible botte that is
- Reusable
- Foldable
- Attachable
- Identifiable
- Freezable
- Cleanable
You have to check this bottle out!

http://vapur.us/products.php#

With the New Year quickly approaching, people are going to start making and implementing their grand 2010 New Year’s Resolutions. Ultimately a lot of people will choose to “be healthier”, which is a great resolution but people tend to fall off the “healthy” wagon (hence why so many make new commitments each year to it). But being healthy can be super easy if you make your number one health goal to DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

Water is an understated, underrated, underappreciated necessary nutrient because hydration is so important to the functionality of the human body. Water helps with digestion, removes toxins (get rid of the toxic pumpkin pie sitting in your gut), cushions joints (as you start your new workout routine), controls body temperature and most importantly helps with mental performance (like, duh).

It’s been estimated that up to 80% of the U.S. adult population goes through their normal day in at least a mildly dehydrated state. And, if one reports for work, school or life dehydrated, the odds of that circumstance improving during the day aren’t very good. In addition, dehydration can be masked in hunger pains so when a person feels hungry it could just be the body screaming for water. So hydrate, hydrate, hydrate with tap water and reusable water bottles – your body, mind and landfills will thank you!

Recently several groups have called the governement out on the carpet about their frivilous spending on bottled water.  Corporate Accountability International cited that in 2008 state agencies spent over $525,000 on bottled water 5-gallon jugs.  While smaller cities and towns service fewer people, their cost could be less than $100. But it still begs the question – how are we supposed to feel good about our water if the government doesn’t even drink the tap water?!?  Leading by example is always the first step when trying to help initiate Ban the Bottle campagins.  Take San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, St. Louis and Seattle – all have lead by example and made it illegal to spend government money on bottled water.  Support your public water system – ban the bottle!

Read the entire article here – http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/regional/x1439500979/Group-criticizes-state-for-spending-more-than-500-000-on-bottled-water

 Still looking for a gifts for the holidays? Klean Kanteen has a great promotion  – Free Shipping on orders over $75!

Check it out! -  www.kleankanteen.com