NEWS

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BEST PRACTICE: VIRUNGA ECOTOURS

Many people dream of starting an ecotourism business. What can we learn from those who already work in the field? Today we share insights from Virunga Ecotours. This travel company is focused on developing sustainable and community-centered tourism initiatives in the Virunga Massif region, Central Africa. Read the Q&A with Managing Director Francis Ndagijimana.

CEO Francis Ndagijimana

ABOUT VIRUNGA ECOTOURS

Refill Ambassadors (RA): If you could share just one advise for new sustainable tourist enterprises, what would it be?

Francis Ndagijimana (F): To focus on community-centered tourism.

RA: Can you give some examples of how you incorporate this? 

F: We work in partnership with local communities to offer cultural experiences, such as traditional dance performances, craft-making workshops, and homestays, where tourists can learn directly from locals.

 RA: That’s for sure a great experience for tourists. What do locals learn in return?

F: We’ve facilitated training programs to enhance skills, hospitality, guiding, and conservation. By creating these opportunities, we help ensure that tourism benefits the local economy directly, while encouraging environmental stewardship. For example, our Virunga Homestay initiative has enabled local families to host tourists in a sustainable manner, providing them with both income and a deeper understanding of conservation.

RA: It’s amazing that you are involving local families to run the homestay. What other sustainability actions do you take for Virunga Homestay? 

F: Yes, we are committed to sustainable practices across all aspects of Virunga Homestay. We encourage local families to use solar panels for energy, which reduces reliance on non-renewable sources. For water, we’ve implemented water filtration systems to ensure safe and clean drinking water, while reducing the need for bottled water. Additionally, we support waste segregation and composting to minimize our environmental footprint. We also educate homestay hosts about sustainable practices like energy conservation, reducing plastic use, and managing waste responsibly.

water filter system

ACHIEVEMENTS IN ECO-FRIENDLY TOURISM

RA: Virunga Ecotours was established in 2017. What are you proud of so far? 

F: Since our inception, we’ve been able to create sustainable livelihoods for hundreds of local families through ecotourism and community-based tourism. We’re especially proud of our partnerships with local communities and the way we have built trust and collaboration to make conservation a shared priority. We’ve also seen growth in eco-friendly tourism activities, such as gorilla trekking, cultural experiences, and nature walks, which help protect the biodiversity of the Virunga Massif.

RA: Interesting, you seem to look for collaboration instead of competition. A very different question: where is the Virunga Massif?

F: The Virunga Massif spans across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This region is home to the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. We operate primarily within Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Musanze, as well as nearby areas like the Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

RA: We would love to go there one day. And then go biking on the volcano belt with your team! Who are your customers (the tourists)? 

F: Our tourists are eco-conscious travellers, nature lovers, and those interested in cultural exchange. Many of our clients are looking for authentic, sustainable experiences that allow them to engage with local communities and enjoy the natural beauty of the Virunga region. We also cater to researchers, conservationists, and volunteers.

RA: Can you tell us more about the latter? How does this work? 

F: We collaborate with research organizations, conservationists, and universities to provide opportunities for fieldwork and scientific study in the region. Volunteers, both local and international, can contribute to projects ranging from wildlife and nature conservation to community development initiatives. These partnerships help strengthen conservation efforts and provide hands-on experience for those looking to make a positive impact.

ABOUT SINGLE-USE PLASTICS IN RWANDA

RA: Many of our readers live in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Also, our own knowledge of environmental issues in Central Africa is limited. Can you explain the situation in your own country Rwanda?

F: Rwanda faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, soil erosion, and the effects of climate change on agriculture. The government has made significant efforts to address these issues, particularly through large-scale reforestation initiatives and policies promoting sustainable land use. We’re proud to contribute to these efforts by engaging with local communities to promote conservation practices like tree planting that protect the environment while improving livelihoods.

RA: Please keep continuing this practice. How are waste treatment facilities in Rwanda? 

F: Rwanda has made great strides in waste management in recent years. The country’s capital, Kigali, has an organized waste collection and recycling system. While there are still challenges in rural areas, there are ongoing efforts to improve waste management practices, and many local communities are involved in waste sorting, recycling, and composting programs.

RA: How is the water quality in Rwanda? What would you advise for tourists regarding drinking water? 

F: The water quality in Rwanda is generally good, especially in urban areas like Kigali. However, tap water may not always be treated to international standards in more rural areas. We advise tourists to drink bottled or filtered water, particularly in remote areas. For Virunga Homestay, we ensure that the water provided to our guests is filtered and safe to drink.

As Refill Ambassadors, we are always happy to hear about these initiatives. Because, refilling comes first! We would like to thank Francis for his clear explanations and advice. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT VIRUNGA ECOTOURS

Visit the Virunga Ecotours website

Do you have more tips how to run a sustainable travel company? Please share your thoughts below.

Images for this blog were provided by Virunga Ecotours

All our blogs are composed without commissions

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DEPOSIT SYSTEM IS FAILING

The deposit system is not working properly. One and a half year ago, we happily announced the introduction of a 15 cent deposit on all cans and plastic bottles in the Netherlands (in Dutch: statiegeld). The deposit was supposed to improve waste separation and to decrease trash.  But in reality we face new problems. What is happening?

GOOD INTENTIONS, BAD RESULTS

Research on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management showed that a deposit system can reduce the amount of litter by as much as 70 to 90 percent. Moreover, returning your cans or bottles to a vending machine contributes to achieving recycling targets.

Unfortunately, we seem to face more trash these days. Is the deposit system failing? We conclude:

  • Only 50% of all cans are returned to a collection point (source)
  • Waste bins in public spaces are ripped apart as people desperately search for cans and bottles, causing a lot of nuisance.
  • There is an insuffient number of collection points. A point of sale is not automatically a drop-off point.
  • The collection points’ machines are often out of order.
  • The barcode must be easily scannable, impossible with dented cans.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Several national consumer campaigns have been launched, showing that consumers can also get their deposit back at petrol stations, for example. Some municipalities have now equipped waste bins with special holders where people can leave their deposit packaging. A nice gesture, but will it be sufficient?

CONTINUE OR ABANDON THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM?

Do you have a suggestion how to tackle this problem? Do you want to continue or abandon the deposit system in the Netherlands? How is this organised in your country? We would love to hear your thoughts.

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BEST PRACTICES: WASTE WARRIORS

Anyone who has been to India knows that waste management is a major challenge. Especially single-use plastics are everywhere. Solving the waste crisis in the Indian Himalayan region is the goal of Waste Warriors. This non profit organisation operates in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh since 2012. What is Waste Warriers’ strategy? And what can you do as tourist or Indian citizen?

Litter on the streets (image source: Refill Ambassadors)
Raising awareness at Bhagsu waterfall, a popular tourist hangout (image source: Refill Ambassadors)

1. Zero waste program

Waste Worriers work closely with local governments to help them overcome challenges in setting up effective waste management systems. The goal is to look for long-term solutions, with a special focus on tourist areas.

2. Community activation

According to Waste Warriors, there are always some people already tackling the problem. Waste Warriors works to identify, encourage and promote the work of these Warriors from within the community. Not just to take care of one’s own waste, but to improve the entire community. Among others, activities include:

  • Collaborate with artists to transform spaces
  • Organise public campaigns
  • Run education programs
  • Responsible tourist initiatives
Pledge to not litter (image source: Refill Ambassadors)

3. Research and advocacy

Waste Warriors partners with academic institutions think tanks, and other non-profits to design and implement policy advocacy and research projects with specific objectives. They look at the environmental impact of waste, behavioural change and technology solutions.

4. Dignified livelihoods

Waste workers often face lots of social and economic difficulties. That’s why Waste Warriors wants to assist youth and women to generate additional income and earn their identity.

Waste Warriers achievements

The organisation states:

A decade into the battle, we realize we have a long path ahead. Yet, our small victories along the way have created large ripple effects!

We are proud that they have collected 5,570 Metric Tonnes of waste, engaged more than 160.000 people, and empowered over 700 waste workers.

This blog is just a very short summary of all the work Waste Warriors is doing. Visit their website to learn more.

What you can do

  • Join as volunteer for cleanups or other events throughout India, or organise your own cleanup
  • Separate your waste
  • Decrease your own waste, by opting to eat in, bring your own water bottle with filter, cutlery, bag, reusable cup, etc.
  • Pick up litter when going on a hike
River bed leading to the Ganga, Rishikesh (image source: Refill Ambassadors)

Share your thoughts

Do you have more tips? We are excited to hear from you.

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WATER-TO-GO, AN AMAZING BOTTLE

With a Water-to-go bottle, you safe plastic, money and stay hydrated. In many countries I would not recommend to drink water straight from the tap, especially when you are not used to it. Unless you have this incredible reusable bottle. We took the plunge during a long trip in India.

WATER-TO-GO BENEFITS

I really think this is a great product because:

  • It filters 99.99999% of microbiological contaminants in the water. After traveling five months in India, I have not been sick. All this time I was drinking tap water from my bottle.
  • It takes out bad smell and odours of (tap) water.
  • The bottle is affordable. I paid around 40 euros for a 0.75L bottle, including one filter. There is also a 0.5L bottle.
  • The filters last long. Mine can be used for 2 months or 200 L. I brought 2 spare filters for this trip.
  • The bottle is durable and easy to clean. I must admit the design is far from fancy, but it works amazing.
  • The bottle is BPA-free
  • I support the mission and vision of the company.

HOW IT WORKS

So how can this bottle with its tiny filter perform it’s magic? I tried to write a good summary, but that did not work. Therefore I copied the following text from the official website:

“Our reusable, BPA free water bottles contains our own unique 3-in-1 filtration technology effectively providing clean safe drinking water from any non-salt water source around the world.

Three different (1 traditional and 2 nano) technologies are combined in one filter cartridge to remove up to 99.9999% of microbiological contaminants in water.

The three technologies used in a filter are:

  • Mechanical filtration – A tiny pore size, so small contaminants can’t fit through.
  • Electrical – A positive charge reduces the pore size even further and attracts contaminants like a magnet, trapping them inside the filter.
  • Activated Carbon – Unlike most carbon based filters, instead of using adhesives to glue the carbon particles together, (which vastly reduces the carbon’s efficiency) it is contained within the membrane, helping to reduce contaminants whilst eliminating bad tastes and odours.”

WHAT NOT TO DO WITH YOUR BOTTLE

Here are some tips… Very obvious but still good to know.

  • Don’t fill it with salty water.
  • Don’t leave the water inside for too long. Or if you do then refresh the bottle first before using.
  • Don’t use aggressive cleaning detergents.
  • You can only drink directly from the cap. You cannot use this bottle to filter a bucket of water. For this purpose, use another aid such as the Steripen

WHERE TO BUY?

Look on the company’s website to see if shipment is available in your country. If not, search online. Not yet convimced? Read the many customers’ testimonials.

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WATER REFILL IN INDIA

Drinking tap water in India is not recommended in most areas. Luckily, refill stations are widespread in the subcontinent. Bring your bottle and start refilling! In this blog we explain how.

1. WATER REFILL IN INDIA WITH FILTER SYSTEMS

Refilling purified and cool drinks for 5 rupies per liter
When the train stops, you can run in and out for a water refill

At some squares, stations and other public places you can refill your own water bottle directly at a machine. This will cost around 5 rupies per liter. Many hotels and museums also offer free filtered water. If they don’t have it on display just ask for it.

2. FREE WATER FOUNTAINS

At many places you will find public drinking fountains with signs indicating ‘drinking water’. We did not test this water in a lab, but we did not get sick of it either. This water is always free of charge and you will see many Indians drinking from them.

Typical drinking water tap at a train station
Many people will use the same metal cup, so it’s smart to bring your own (cup or bottle)

3. ORDINARY TAP WATER

When traveling to any country where tap water is not potable, we recommend to bring a filter bottle, steripen or other filter. We are traveling in India with the Water-To-Go bottle. This enables you to refill at almost any tap and drink unfiltered water from restaurants. Then you never have to worry about buying plastic bottles.

WATER REFILL IN INDIA

You may wonder if refilling is really necessary when you only travel a couple of weeks or months in India. Packaged bottled water is widely available and cheap (around € 0,20 per liter). And you don’t want to get sick because of contaminated water. But as a traveler, we feel you have a shared responsibility for your waste.

Many places lack a functioning waste management system, plastic waste is everywhere and many items end up burned instead of recycled.

So please:

  • Put in some extra effort for your water refills, while still using your head to assess the risks (e.g. does it look clean & trustworthy).
  • Don’t open free single use water bottles in hotels, trains, etc.
  • When ordering drinks, ask to serve it without a straw.
  • Water refills are only the first step. You may also want to bring or buy boxes for food parcels and a reusable cup for chai.

MORE REFILL IN INDIA TIPS

If you have more tips on how to refill in India, please leave your comment below. We would love to hear your thoughts.

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PIETER POT: ZERO WASTE SUPERMARKET

Sustainability must be attractive and that’s what Pieter Pot is aiming for. This Dutch online supermarket offers over 500 products, everything packed in sturdy glass. You order in the app and it gets delivered at your doorstep. I quickly became interested. Read why!

delivery of Pieter Pot food

COOL PRODUCTS IN BEAUTIFUL GLASS JARS

Some supermarket chains have installed refill machines, usually stockey with nuts and grains. This is too much effort for many people. The company states:

If we want to make a real impact, sustainability must also be attractive. Like Tesla makes sustainable cars sexy. Just like Tony’s Chocolonely slave-free chocolate is really tasty. This is how Pieter Pot makes packaging-free shopping easy. Hi groceries. Bye packaging!

Tesla might make sustainable cars sexy, but they are super expensive, so I think this is a bad comparison. Pieter Pot asks a fair price for their goods and delivery. What I particularly like about the company is that it has many products that are usually only available in single-use plastic, cardboard or metal packaging. For example hagelslag (Dutch chocolate sprinkles), pasta and small peppermints. Also their jars are beautiful and they can be stacked in rows, very handy for my small kitchen.

Example of peppermint

PIETER POT & CO2 FOOTPRINT

Together with the Knowledge Institute for Sustainable Packaging, Pieter Pot calculated the CO2 footprint of their entire circular service. They take into account the production, all transport and cleaning of the pots. Hereby the goal is that each pot can be reused at least 40 times. 

According to Pieter Pot, every household in the Netherlands throws away about 3,300 plastic packagings every year. That’s a crazy amount! They claim to have saved 5.302.838 plackagings since they started operating. 

Delivering one reusable jar emits less CO2 than delivering a pack of muesli (+20% CO2), a plastic bottle of ketchup (+157% CO2) and a disposable jar of mayonnaise (+ 32% CO2). I did not do a fact check on this but you can download the research here (in Dutch).

THE FUTURE OF PIETER POT

Are there no disadvantages? Sure there are. It requires planning and storage space. For each jar and large (wine) bottle you pay €2 deposit. For the bags they charge €3.50 per order. You need to keep the empty jars, bottles and bags until the next pickup. Also  ordering through an app instead of just going to the store is not preferable for everyone. In that case going to a bulk store can be a good alternative.

I really hope Pieter Pot can keep up with competition. Unfortunately the company is financially unstable. Last month, the company called on its customers to put a financial credit on their user account. The action has so far yielded more than four tons, so let’s hope they will succeed!

15 EURO DISCOUNT FOR NEW CUSTOMERS 

Pieter Pot operates in the Netherlands and in Belgium. Curious? New customers immediately receive €15 free shopping credit. 

plastic waste

UPDATE JAN’24: PIETER POT WILL START AGAIN

Pieter Pot has officially declared bankruptcy on December 14th. The company will re-establish itself, after a successful crowdfunding campaign. 

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WHERE ARE THE MOST PUBLIC FOUNTAINS?

Even though it’s raining in most parts of Europe, it is crucial to stay hydrated, particularly when exploring new cities during our travels. However, finding a refreshing sip of water without breaking the bank can be quite challenging in certain places, as highlighted by this study. Using data from OpenStreetMap, it reveals the number of public water fountains per 100K in every country and city in the world. We’re excited to share today’s guest blog by Touseef Hussain, Marketing & Communications Officer at QS Supplies. Be prepared for cool infographics!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS

Public water fountains hold significant importance for the health and well-being of communities. These fountains provide easy access to clean drinking water, preventing dehydration in public spaces. Additionally, they offer a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to purchasing bottled beverages, reducing plastic waste and our environmental impact.

Maintained properly and equipped with filtered water, these fountains also play a crucial role in minimising the risk of waterborne illnesses, contributing to a healthier and more hygienic public environment.

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH AND LOW NUMBERS OF DRINKING FOUNTAINS

If you are in Montenegro, you need not worry about staying hydrated. This Balkan state takes the crown for having the highest number of water fountains per person in the world. It boasts 472.4 drinking fountains per 100,000 people.

The abundance of public watering holes is a big plus for tourists visiting the country’s scenic destinations, especially during the scorching summer days. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C in inland regions like Podgorica.

Nigeria and Fiji face challenges in providing public water fountains. Nigeria registers an alarmingly low number of 0.01 drinking fountains per 100,000 people. Fiji has no recorded public water fountains.

GLOBAL CITIES WITH PLENTY OF PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS

Switzerland, known for its focus on public utilities and expert urban planning, leads the list of cities with the most water fountains. Zurich and Basel, with 221 and 177 fountains per 100,000 people respectively, secure the top spots. Geneva also makes an appearance in the top 10, with 86.22 water fountains per 100K people.

list of cities with most public drinking fountains

PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS IN THE UK

So what about the UK? For travellers in Bournemouth, located on the south coast of England, staying hydrated is easy thanks to the city’s high proportion of public water fountains in the UK

Leeds lags way behind; it has less than one fountain per 100,000 people in the city.

UK cities list of drinking water fountains

PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS IN THE USA

Oregon emerges as the US state with the highest number of water fountains per 100,000 people. It has 14.77 water fountains per 100k people in the USA, while Tennessee has the fewest (just 0.21).

Moving to the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, boasts an impressive 24.83 water fountains per 100,000 people. That’s the highest figure from any US city.

Las Vegas presents a rather disheartening scenario. With only 0.62 water fountains per 100,000 people, it’s the US city with the lowest supply of free sources for drinking water.

And it’s something that annoys the tourists. Sin City often charges exorbitant prices for basic necessities like water. In some establishments, you’ll have to pay as much as $12 for a bottle. A bottle from a Starbucks on the Las Vegas Strip is $5.

ABOUT OUR GUEST BLOGGER

This is a guest blog by Touseef Hussain, Marketing & Communications Officer at QS Supplies, one of the UK’s largest independent bathroom wholesalers and retailers. They have been in business in Leicester since 1990. The team also shares original research studies on various relevant topics.

We like to give a big thanks to Touseef. Some of our own experiences match with the findings in his study, like Refill Paradise Switzerland. Brazil on the other hand scores really low, something that RefilMe Brasil is trying to change. We need more people advocating for public drinking fountains.

Do you want to become a guest writer for our platform? Please read our guidelines.

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REFILME BRASIL SAVES >750,000 BOTTLES

It has been two years since we wrote about RefilMe, Brazil’s first water refill app. Since then, its founders Flávia and Isabela worked really hard to improve Brazil’s refill infrastructure and refill culture. With their water machines, they already saved 783,558 bottles! What are they up to now? Read this blog and profit from some free advice!

water refill - event Brazil
water refill - event Brazil

5 QUESTIONS TO FLÁVIA, CO-FOUNDER REFILME BRASIL

Can you explain again why you started this project?

Our mission is to make refilling a popular habit, and to make refilling spots available in different places and situations. So, people will be able to hydrate out of home without the necessity to buy a plastic bottle.

Exactly, we want to avoid the single-use plastics. Soon you’ll have saved 1 million bottles. RefilMe started in two cities, but now you operate in many more areas. You cannot split yourself in ten pieces. How are you managing to expand your business?

The maintenance is very simple and we do a remote control of machines. Thus, when necessary, we ask for one of our local partners to check and repair the machines.

To expand the number of refill stations we are making partnerships with sponsors. So they pay to use the machine as a publicity totem and we have budget to install and operate the machine. Users can refill for free.

water refill machine - RefilMe
water refill machine - RefilMe
Water refill - RefilMe Brazil
water refill machine - RefilMe

That is a smart business model, win-win! What have you learned so far? Please share your top 3 lessons.

  1. Don’t wait a until has a perfect machine to start your operation;
  2. We have to listen to our clients to be aware of what they really need and expect.
  3. Don’t be afraid of changes and keep an open mind to all the opportunities that appear. Sometimes we find a better business model than the one that we created.

WORKING IN A SMALL TEAM

 Thank you for sharing. How is it for you personally to work on this big project?

It’s very challenging. As our team is very small, everyone needs to work in all areas of the company, and sometimes we have to deal with some problems that we don’t have the skills to do. But at the same time, it is very rewarding, especially when we receive good feedback from people who really understand our mission.

Last question. Do you also work with volunteers? Why or why not?

Yes we do. It’s very nice when we can work with people passionate for our mission, because we have similar desires to protect the world.

We understand! Hopefully you can keep up this flexible attitude and gradually welcome more people to the team with different backgrounds and knowledge. We wish you all the best!

FOLLOW REFILME BRASIL

We are happy to hear RefilMe is doing well. Isabela and Flávia seem to have transformed their activism into a working business model.

  • Do you want to benefit from free, clean, filtered tap water in Brazil? The RefilMe Brasil app is available for iOS and Android.
  • If you have tips for RefilMe or want to collaborate, don’t hesitate and get in touch with them.
  • Follow RefilMe on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Source of all images: RefilMe

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SWITZERLAND: REFILL PARADISE

If there is one country in the world where you really want to refill your bottle it is Switzerland. Switzerland may be expensive, but the public fountains are free. And there are thousands of them! The water tastes delicious, while some fountains have an incredibly beautiful design. Needless to say, this is a true refill paradise. In this blog I share some Swiss public fountains and practical tips.

PUBLIC DRINKING FOUNTAINS IN SWITZERLAND

GOOD TO KNOW

  • In the winter months, many drinking fountains stop operating.
  • Swiss airports are not (yet) very generous with water refill stations.
  • There are also fountains with non-potable water, but don’t worry. These fountains have a clear sign.
  • Even though there are many refill stations, bring sufficient water when going on a hike.
  • Besides public fountains, Switzerland has many free, clean public toilets.  

HOW TO FIND PUBLIC FOUNTAINS IN SWITZERLAND?

Like I said, there are really a lot of fountains, both in cities and in the countryside. If you cannot find a public fountain, you can use the free Refill app. The app shows a global network of places to reduce, reuse and refill (in public and private space).

Some municipalities also have their own maps. For example in Zurich you can also this fountain map. Here is the map for Lucerne. However, you are most likely to spot the next fountain before your bottle is empty.

FROM REFILLING YOUR BOTTLE TO ZERO WASTE

For many people refilling your water bottle is the first step in reducing single-use plastics. But you can do much more. Bring your reusable cup, box, cutlery when on the go. Say no to the (bamboo) straw. Here are some useful guides.

Refill Swiss has started to add refill stations, starting with refilling water bottles. They will expand to include Coffee on the go, and shopping with less plastic. We also recommend to check out the Zero Waste Switzerland event calendar.

WHAT IS YOUR REFILL PARADISE?

What is your favourite refill country or area? Looking forward to hear from you.

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ECO-FRIENDLY TIPS ON THE GO: HOW TO STAY HYDRATED WHILE TRAVELING

Staying hydrated when traveling should be a priority for many reasons. First, dehydration can worsen jet lag symptoms, such as fatigue and headaches. Drinking water before, during, and after your a long ride or flight can help combat jet lag and make the transition to a new time zone easier. In addition, proper hydration supports your immune system, making you less susceptible to illness. When you’re traveling, you’re exposed to new environments, different foods, and potential disease-causing germs and viruses. Drinking water can help keep your immune system strong and reduce your risk of getting sick.

Two women sitting at a sunny beach
Image source: Pexels.com

If you’re passionate about sustainability, green home cleaning, achieving a zero-waste lifestyle, and other ways to save the environment, this one’s for you, too. One of the best ways to ensure you stay hydrated and have access to clean drinking water while traveling is to bring a reusable water bottle wherever you go. Aside from guaranteeing you’re well-hydrated throughout your trip, it also helps you stay eco-friendly by steering clear from one-time-use plastic bottled water, notoriously known as one of the leading culprits of plastic pollution worldwide.

Bringing your own tumbler to refill helps you become more sustainable. However, refilling while on the go can sometimes be challenging. In this article, I* share some practical and eco-friendly tips that can help you.

RESEARCH WATER SOURCES BEFOREHAND

Before embarking on your journey, go online and check out the availability, safety, and access to drinking water at your destination. You can do this by checking travel forums or government websites for information on whether tap water is safe to drink. This will help you determine if you need to bring a water filter or purification tablets.

BRING A WATER BOTTLE WITH A FILTER

A water bottle with a built-in filter can be a lifesaver when traveling because it’s designed to filter out bacteria and other contaminants from tap water, making it safe to drink. Make sure to choose a bottle with a high-quality filter and replace it regularly.

MAN SITTING IN MOUNTAINS
Image source: Pexels.com

USE A WATER FOUNTAIN

Many public places, such as airports and parks, have water fountains available for public use. These fountains can be a great source of clean drinking water, and they are often located in convenient areas. Just make sure to clean the spout before filling up your bottle to avoid contamination.

ASK LOCALS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

If you’re in doubt about the safety of tap water in a particular area, it’s always a good idea to ask the locals or fellow travelers who have already spent time there. They may know of safe sources of drinking water, such as natural springs or water wells. Just be sure to triple-check before drinking it.

Man drinking water in a city
Image source: Pexels.com

NEVER BUY SINGLE-USE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

While it may be tempting to buy plastic water bottles while traveling, it’s important to remember that they harm the environment, mainly marine life, when they end up in our oceans. If you didn’t bring your tumbler on a particular trip, buy a reusable water bottle in the nearest mall or grocery store and refill it as needed. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll also save money in the long run.

GOT OTHER ECO-FRIENDLY TRAVEL TIPS? LET’S HEAR THEM!

How about you? How do you stay well-hydrated and plastic-free during your travels? Please share them with us in the comment section below.

*About the Author:

This article is written by a lovely guest blogger! Jade Piper is a writer and mother based in Indianapolis. She is a keen environmentalist and in her spare time enjoys gardening, reading, and listening to music.

All our guest bloggers contribute voluntarily and without commissions.

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15 CENT DEPOSIT ON BOTTLES AND CANS

New deposit system! Since April 1st, a deposit of 15 cents is charged on all cans sold in the Netherlands. Empty cans can be handed in at about 5,000 supermarkets. There are also about 22,000 other collection points such as gas stations, NS stations and sports clubs. The measure follows the deposit on small plastic bottles, introduced in 2021.

DEPOSIT SYSTEM ON PLASTIC BOTTLES

Since July 1, 2021, consumers pay 15 cents extra for bottles of less than a liter of water or soda. Some 900 million of these bottles are sold every year. To prevent these bottles from ending up as litter on the streets or in nature, the deposit was introduced. The result so far:

  • More than 80 percent of all plastic bottles sold, large and small, are handed in for deposits. This is still below the cabinet goal of 90 percent in 2022 (Source: Statiegeld Nederland).
  • The number of plastic bottles in litter has dropped by nearly 70 percent since the introduction of the deposit system (Source: NOS).

POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM

  • Add more return machines.
  • Increase the deposit. 15 cent is too low an incentive for some people.
  • Make the deposit mandatory for all small bottles (producers are currently required to charge a deposit on water and soft drinks, while juice and dairy do not have to).
  • Accept damaged bottles and cans (in this way, picking them up from the street is karma + a financial reward). 
  • Customize bins in public spaces, to accomodate for cans and bottles (see example below from Denmark)
bottle holder at bin

According to Milieu Centraal, approximately 150 million cans were littered in the Netherlands in 2021. We are happy with the new despoit system and we hope from now on cans will be less frequently dumped on the street and in nature.

For those who want to hand in cans: don’t crush them! The bar code must be legible and a smashed can will not be accepted by the machine.

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CIRCULAR PLASTICS NL

The ideal 2050 scenario: no landfills, no litter, minimised incineration, ownership of waste streams, legislation & harmonisation, and extended producer responsibility. It sounds fantastic, but how to get there? Circular Plastics NL tries to find an answer. 

ROADMAP CIRCULAR PLASTICS

Interactive Circular Plastics Roadmap – Source: ISPT.eu

Together with industrial experts, the Circular Plastics Initiative created a cool roadmap for circular plastics. This visual represents the needed steps towards a future with circular plastics. The interactive website shows a representation of how this path would look like. There you find key elements that need our focus to make circular plastics possible. We summarise them below:

  1. Design for/from recycling, e.g.:
    • What are the needed design rules and processes that have to be implemented/ used to be compliant to (new) legislation (for the various value chains and applications)
    • Modelling multi-layer mono-polymer process design and functionality for various value chains/applications
  2. Chemical recycling, e.g.:
    • Efficient and effective separation techniques to deliver clean recyclates
    • Optimize the efficiency of pre- treatment technologies
    • Develop recycled material for multi-loop recycling
  3. Sorting techniques, e.g.:
    • Assessment of needed characterization and sorting techniques for optimized sorting for the various value chains
  4. Mechanical recycling, e.g.:
    • New and cheap in-line separation techniques for various types of mechanical recycling processes (film extrusion, injection moulding, blow moulding, pipe/ profile extrusion)

ABOUT CIRCULAR PLASTICS NL

On January 1st 2023, Circular Plastics NL started: an 8-year national growth fund program with a >€ 500 million total budget. Various companies and knowledge institutions work together with the Dutch government. Find out more on the Circular Plastics Initiative and join their plastics community op LinkedIn.

RECYCLE OR REUSE?

We agree with the listed priorities in the perspective of a circular economy, and many improvements are needed (legislation, new technologies, consumer behaviour, etc.). However, we wonder if prevention of plastics is also prioritised. Take for example, a plastic packaging containing 500 gram oats. We can switch to a plastic that is easy to recycle, but do we need that packaging in the first place?

Bulk stores offer good alternatives. Several Zero Waste movements have published plastic free guides. Reduce and refill first, then think about recycling! Or perhaps another government funded program tackles this? Leave your comment below.

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WHAT TO DO WITH BIOBASED PLASTICS?

‘Plastic Free’, is written down a shelf full of translucent packagings. We see biobased packaging in the Ekoplaza supermarket and at festivals that are claiming to be sustainable. What is such a bioplastic tray, bag, or fork made from? And where to dispose biobased plastics after use? In this blog we tackle some practical questions about biobased plastics.

WHAT ARE BIOBASED PLASTICS?

When we talk about biobased plastics or bioplastics, we mean plastic “made from renewable biomass sources”. Raw materials are for example polylactic acid (PLA) or starch extracted from potato or corn. Protein sources such as wheat gluten, casein and milk can also be used. Even seaweed can be transformed into plastic!

Foil made from compostable wood pulp

WHAT ARE BIOPLASTICS USED FOR?

They are mainly used in (food) packaging, bags, fibres/non-wovens and agricultural applications. In 2015, the production capacities for biobased and biodegradable plastics accounted for nearly 1% of total global plastic production. One explanation is that most biobased plastics are more expensive than fossil-based plastics (in €/kg) (WUR).

ARE BIOBASED PLASTICS BETER THAN FOSSIL FUEL-BASED PLASTICS?

Some biobased plastics are more sustainable than fossil fuel based plastics, some are not. In any case, the two are hard to compare. Even though it is great to avoid fossil fuels, bioplastics also lead to debate because of the use of agricultural land and resources, competing with food production. Currently only about 0,02% of arid land is being used for biobased plastic production (WUR), so we are not too worried about that.

WHERE TO DISPOSE BIOPLASTICS?

Here comes the difficult part. Where to throw away that biobased box or fork? First of all, check whether your biobased plastic is also compostable (read our previous blog to learn more about compostable and biodegradable plastics).

  • ORGANIC WASTE: Unfortunately, compostable plastic is difficult to distinguish from non-compostable plastic. As a result, consumers accidently throw non-compostable plastic in the organic waste. Therefore, most municipalities advice against putting compostable products in the organic waste. One exception is the green plastic garbage bag. That is allowed in the green bin.
  • DIY COMPOST: Your own compost pile probably doesn’t get hot enough to fully break down the molecules. It might take years or even decades.
  • PLASTIC RECYCLING: Small amounts of bioplastics can be blended with other post- consumer plastics for recycling purposes. Many recycling companies are not in favour of this. Note also that recycling plastic almost always means downcycling (with the exception of PET-recycling), and that plastic recycling in itself is not a sustainable solution.
  • GENERAL WASTE. The ‘safest’ yet also undesirable solution (check out the Zero Waste Hierarchy).

    FUTURE PERSPECTIVE ON BIOBASED PLASTICS

    Biobased plastics still form a niche market. There is potential for growth, but biobased plastics will not replace conventional plastics any time soon, unless fossil fuel prices go skyrocket. There are still a lot of challenges that need to be solved, especially related to end-of-life. It was complicated for us as well. If/when all compostable plastic waste will be allowed in the green bin depends on your government’s composting and recycling system. Last but not least, bioplastics are not a solution to the plastic soup. So please keep refilling! And bring that mug for your coffee to go!

    For more information read the full WUR report.

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    ADE #PLASTICFREEPARTY

    Last week it was Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), a huge gathering for electronic music and its industry. With 450.000 visitors spread over 1.000 events at 200 locations, Amsterdam turned into a crazy place for five days and nights. One event was titled ADE #PlasticFreeParty. According to the organizers “the evening will be boasting a Green Innovators Showcase where the most ground-breaking plastic-alternative companies will demonstrate what the future of a #PlasticFreeParty can look like.” This sounded like the ideal opportunity for us to meet like-minded people. But was it?

    Event poster #PLASTICFREEPARTY

    DRINKS SOLD IN CANS

    As Refill Ambassadors, we expected a genius tap system crowded with visitors refilling their cups. This wasn’t the case. There was a small dance floor. At the bar most drinks were sold in cans, including sparkling and still water. Okey it’s not plastic, but not very sustainable either, as it requires unnecessary production processes and transport. Wine was served in real wine glasses. For those who wished a water refill, the toilets were the place to go. A bit disappointing.

    GOOD MUSIC, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE THEME?

    The second room was the so called Green Innovators Showcase. There was one table with bowls and ashtrays by PuriFungi. Interesting stuff, as they are produced with cigarette butts and mycelium. From waste to products!

    Ashtrays made from cigarette butts and mycelium. Source: PuriFungi

    But apart from the fungi-table, 3 signposts and a screen with a QR code, we could not discover anything else that contributed to the #PlasticFreeParty theme. Other visitors did not seem to care. They told us to haven chosen this party because it was cheap, or because tickets were still available, unlike most other ADE events. Nevertheless, we had a nice evening with good music. We do hope the next year’s edition will have more innovations on showcase and a real #plasticfreeparty vibe.

    party vibe

    MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A PLASTICFREE PARTY

    What kind of products or services would you like to have at a #PlasticFreeParty? Please leave your comments below.

    Like the topic? Read our blog: ‘ Refilling and recycling at festivals’.

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    WHY PLASTIC RECYCLING IS NOT THE SOLUTION

    Plastic recycling problems, an unpopular topic, yet something that needs to be addressed. Plastic waste may triple by 2060. Recycling is essential, but not easy. Even though nowadays many companies proudly present their recycled packaging, plastic recycling has many problems. In this blog we briefly explain you why plastic recycling is not the (best) solution. This is a complicated topic, which could be explained in multiple blogs/articles from different points of view. We tried to keep it short and simple.

    Companies promoting their packaging made of recycled plastic

    PLASTIC RECYCLING PROBLEMS 

    • Poor working conditions. Most developed countries that are into plastic recycling do not do the job themselves. China used to be the main importing country of plastic waste, until the country announced an unprecedented ban on its import of most plastic waste. This resulted in a change in global plastic waste trade flow. Since then, most European countries transport plastic waste to Turkey, where it is recycled in factories. Unfortunately, many of these factories do not care about labour circumstances or environmental care.

    In a recent Human Rights Watch report, it stated: “‘It’s as If They’re Poisoning Us’: The Health Impacts of Plastic Recycling in Turkey,” documents the consequences of the Turkish government’s ineffective response to the health and environmental impacts of plastic recycling on the right to health. Air pollutants and toxins emitted from recycling affect workers, including children, and people living near recycling facilities.

    Image source: Getty images
    • Recycling stream is not clean. Non-recyclable materials being put in the recycling stream (such as liquids or plastic bags) that contaminate recyclable materials. A big part of recycled plastic is of inferior quality. The process of recycling is in fact often downcycling (read more).
    • Plastic recycling is neither economical, nor (very) sustainable. Recycled plastic sometimes costs more than new plastic because collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic waste is expensive. Even though recycling is better than landfill or incineration, but recycling in itself is not the most sustainable process. Lots of energy is needed for the process.

    REFILL BEFORE RECYCLING

    Recycling techniques must be improved and the chain should be beter inspected. But most of all we must reduce and discourage the consumption of plastics. Refilling is better than recycling! Check our post on The Zero Waste Hierarchy.

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    THE ZERO WASTE HIERARCHY

    We wanted to write a blog about the principle of the Zero Waste Hierarchy. But sometimes other people already have done the job in such a good way that we do not have much to add. So instead of creating our own content based on experiences and existing literature, we invite you to check the image below and to read this blog about the zero waste hierarchy. Enjoy reading!

    zero waste hierarchy

    PLASTIC POLLUTION STATISTICS AND FACTS

    In this zero waste hierarchy, the lowest category is considered ‘unacceptable’. We agree, because valuable (virgin) materials are lost that cannot be renewed. One step above, ‘ residuals management’ also causes many problems, as many landfills are poorly managed.

    To better understand the scope of plastic pollution, we analysed different articles and blog. We feel this blog from Happiness without gives a pretty good overview. Dive in their article to learn how much plastic waste is being produced. We quote their most important advice:

    The best way to help is to limit your use of single-use products whenever possible. Actions like bringing your own bags to the grocery store and purchasing your own multi-use water bottle are small steps. 

    More important is supporting wider-ranging political initiatives such as plastic bag bans and ensuring high-quality water available to more people. Even if these programs mean a little more inconvenience or cost for you, the effect can be much more positive and wide-ranging than simple individual actions. 

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    FIND A WATER TAP ON GOOGLE MAPS

    Good news for refill lovers in the Netherlands: you can now use Google Maps to find the nearest public water tap! For example at train stations, squares or in a national park. Just search for ‘water tap’ on Google Maps. Almost 2.000 water taps are already in the system, thanks to Dopper.

    These water fountains pop up when you search for ‘water tap’ in Utrecht

    GOOGLE MAPS VS. SPECIALIZED WATER REFILL APPS

    Even though we are not the biggest fan of Google, we are happy with this new development. Fact is that Google Maps is the most used navigation platform in the Netherlands. So we hope more people will find their way to a water tap.

    In 2018 we wrote a blog about different refill apps, and the need for a global system. For example The Netherlands may be a small country, but there are different refill apps/platforms (Drinkwaterkaart, Publiek Water, etc.). Some apps like Refill and mymizu cover multiple countries and also include refill stations in private places, such as bars and restaurants. We support the organisations behind these refill apps to continue their hard work. Because they raise awareness and save single-use bottles!

    refill apps
    Several refill apps, used to find refill stations

    However, the problem is that these apps are less well-known. Plus people are used to one navigation app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc). This is the main reason that we as Refill Ambassadors did not create our own app.

    NEXT STEP: EUROPE

    Back to our main topic: using Google Maps to find public water taps. The refill points are currently only mapped for the Netherlands. Dopper wants to roll it out across the whole of Europe. And hopefully it will become available worldwide soon. But for now: check the overview of other refill platforms to find refill stations in other countries.

    Happy refilling!

    Awareness campaign by Dopper
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    MICROPLASTIC-FREE COSMETICS

    Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, that are less than five millimeters in diameter. Unfortunately, many personal care products and clothes contain minuscule pieces of plastic. In this blog we share some basic knowledge and useful tips.

    WHERE DO MICROPLASTICS COME FROM?

    Microplastics are added in various products , such as cosmetics. But also as microfibers shed from clothing and other textiles, such as fishing nets. Furthermore, secondary microplastics result from the decomposition of larger plastic products—which can take hundreds or thousands of years. For example, they are visible as miniature multicoloured plastic pieces on the beach.

    Picture by David Liitschwager (Source: National Georaphic)

    WHY ARE MICROPLASTICS A PROBLEM?

    In the oceans, microplastic pollution is often consumed by marine animals. In March 2022, researchers also found tiny plastic particles in human blood (Source: ZonMW; National Geographic). Today it is still unclear what dangers these plastic bits pose to animals or humans. Even so, many countries are taking action to reduce microplastics in the environment. Since many personal care products contain plastic, you as a consumer can play a role too.

    FREE GUIDE TO MICROPLASTIC-FREE COSMETICS

    We already wrote a blog post on “plastic free-guides“. But we recently discovered a new guide focused on micro-plastics. Plastic Soup Foundation, which organises campaigns in microplastics and plastic pollution, has selected over 150 microplastic-free brands. Products are divided into six categories:

    We already wrote a blog post on “plastic free-guides“. But we recently discovered a new guide focused on micro-plastics. Plastic Soup Foundation, which organises campaigns in microplastics and plastic pollution, has selected over 150 microplastic-free brands. Products are divided into six categories:

    1. Hair care products
    2. Body- and suncare
    3. Facial Care Products
    4. Dental Care Products
    5. Deodorants
    6. Make-up

    Download the free guide for microplastic-free products here (PDF).

    Cover image Guide for microplastic-free products (Pastic Soup Foundation)

    MORE MICROPLASTICS TIPS

    Have you already tried to use a shampoo bar? Or tablets that replace toothpaste?

    Please share you microplastic-free tips with our community in the comment below. P.S. We are looking for personal stories, not for companies with commercial interests.

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    REFILLING AND RECYCLING AT FESTIVALS

    The Netherlands is full of festivals. Each weekend, thousands of visitors enjoy a day or weekend of music and performances. What are festivals doing to avoid plastic waste? How do they recycle? Last weekend, Refill Ambassadors Félice and Hella visited the Gardens of Babylon festival, Amsterdam.

    1. REUSABLE CUPS

    We still remember the days of festivals with single-use cups. What a total waste! Towards the end of the night, you almost had to swim against the current of plastic trash. Luckily, these days are gone. Almost all festivals now use reusable cups with a deposit system.

    We noticed that some party animals still threw their cups on the ground. So in the end of the night, we spotted quite some broken cups. But most people carefully kept their cups.

    Refill Ambassador Hella never gives up on her cup

    2. TAP WATER

    Most festivals serve free potable tap water next to the toilets. Last weekend it was quite warm and visitors were frequently refilling.

    3. CUP & COIN COLLECTION

    All beverages— so cups, cans and bottles— had €1.50 deposit on it. Hella joined a ‘Cup & Coin’ volunteer shift. For a couple of hours she was in charge to collect empty cups and provide people with a deposit coin. Overall the shift was a lot of fun. Plus she got free access to the festival.

    Refill Ambassadors Félice (l) and Hella (r)
    cup en coin

    4. RECYCLING

    All waste was being seperated directly on the spot. Plastic bottles, cans, and bottle caps were collected seperately. The food court used biodegradable plates and cutlery. Together with food waste this was collected in one big container. We are not sure what happens next.

    STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

    This festival organisation clearly tries to waste less plastics. Still, there is room for improvements. We suggest:

    • Allowing visitors to bring their own reusable bottle
    • Better inform the visitors upon arrival about the cup & coin system

    SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

    We are curious to hear your opinion about sustainability measures at festivals. Please share your ideas in the comments below.

    Do you want to contribute to sustainable systems at festivals in the Netherlands? Become a Revolution volunteer! You will get amazing rewards (e.g. free access to festivals).

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    BIODEGRADABLE & COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS

    Whether a material is compostable is related to its chemical structure. Thus, there are biobased plastics that are compostable, biobased plastics that are not, and also non-biobased (fossil fuel based) plastics that are compostable. Very confusing! In this blog we do our best to explain biodegradable and compostable plastics.

    BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

    A plastic is biodegradable if it can be converted into water, methane and CO2 in nature. This is done with the help of enzymes.

    The label biodegradable can be misleading. It does not mean we can bury the packaging our garden compost heap and it will vanish naturally. The biodegradation of a plastic in nature can take decades, if not centuries. Some type of bioplastics break down into microplastics and can often only be composed industrially.

    COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS

    Certified compostable plastics decompose fast enough with the current method of composting in the Netherlands. This means no residues of compostable plastic were found in the compost. For example the European standard EN 13432 means the product can compost in a composting facility within 12 weeks, without the addition of artificial additives.

    How do you know your product is compostable?

    • The first step is to look for the certification label from an official authority, like the Biodegradable Products Institute. This organisation certifies that products are able to be composted in commercially run composting facilities. Different countries/continents have different certification labels.
    Examples of certification labels
    Examples of symbols without certification labels
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    CAN YOU DRINK TAP WATER IN ITALY?

    Yes, tap water in Italy is save to drink. Italy ranks fifth in Europe for tap water quality [1]. All tap water in Italy is chlorinated with the minimum required level being 0.2 mg / liter [2], or in exceptional cases there will be a non potable sign. In this blog we explain more about tap water in Italy.

    ITALIAN MINERAL WATER IS SOLD AROUND THE WORLD

    Italy is renowned for its many famous mineral waters. However, this has resulted in the rise of water brands. For example San Pellegrino or San Benedetto. Thanks to advertisements, the export of bottled Italian mineral water has increased over the past decade [3]. Main export markets are the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany and France. Pretty crazy to transport water all over the world, right?!

    Examples of Pellegrino’s marketing (Source: pellegrino.com)

    MINERAL WATER IN ITALY

    Italians are used to buy six-packs of 1.5 litre plastic bottles of water from the supermarket. Instead of buying bottled mineral water, you can just fill it for free on the street. Interestingly, Italy is full of ancient water fountains. They can be incredibly beautiful, so bring your water bottle and camera! Some public areas have paid refill stations, that serve filtered tap water for 5 to 10 eurocents.

    Fresh mineral water in small villages

    TAP WATER IN ITALY – BARS & RESTAURANTS

    Bars and restaurants most likely serve bottled water. We recommend you to just try and ask tap water. No one usually does and your waiter might not want to bring it to you, but you can ask for it. [4]. Luckily, some restaurants already serve chilled, filtered tap water (for free or for a small fee). Moreover, Refill Italia tries to map all these refill stations, by adding them to the free Refill app. You can also add yours!

    Filtered tap water machine in Amico bio (Un Sonrise Integrale), Napoli

    TAP WATER IN ITALY – USEFUL LINKS

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    SMART FILTER & WATER FOUNTAINS IN MEXICO

    Thirsty? The first lesson received by a visitor arriving in Mexico City, is that you cannot drink tap water. As a result, Mexico’s plastic water bottle consumption is one of the highest per capita. According to Greenpeace, only about half of the bottles are recycled and the consumer pays 5,000% more for the product just for the cost of the container. Two DJs are trying to change this. With their company Smart Filter they sell and install Elkay water fountains, bottle fillers and 3M filtration products.

    IMPACT ON MEXICO’S DRINKING WATER CULTURE

    Co-founder Edward Lugo: ‘Me and another co-founder are DJs. We have actually provided free water systems for water festivals and taken a 2 hour break to go play a set; so we like to connect ventures and be artistic with everything we do.’ 

    Smart Filter Event water filling station
    One of the free water stations installed by Smart Filter on the EDC Mexico festival in 2019 (Source: Smart Filter)

    Edward Lugo tells us his family has been involved in water treatment in Mexico for over 50 years. He explains: ‘Our dream is to have an impact of Mexico’s drinking water culture so we can stop being one of the main consumers per capita of plastic in the world’. Therefore, with Smart Filter he wants to install as many filters and water fountains as possible and then find ways to map and have users find the stations. Mapping stations can be done with one of the many refill app.

    MORE AND MORE WATER FOUNTAINS IN MEXICO

    We believe Smart Filter has an interesting approach. Mexico still has a long way to go, but every step counts. Official numbers are missing, but public water fountains are emerging in gyms, universities, massive events, office buildings, parks and hotels. Locals with a sustainability mindset are starting to carry a refillable bottle with them on the streets. We hope more will follow their example!

    GET IN TOUCH

    Smart Filter is based in Mexico City, a metropole with nine million inhabitants. They are a division of Lawsco, a big water treatment company in Mexico. Do you want to learn more about Smart Filter? Check out their website or get in touch with Edward Lugo.

    Smart Filter logo

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    TAP WATER IN VALENCIA

    Can I drink the tap water in Valencia? Yes, you can. The tap water in Valencia may have a strange taste but it is perfectly safe to drink.

    WHY DOES TAP WATER IN VALENCIA TASTES STRANGE?

    The water in Valencia is a hard water, due to the amount of calcium and salt, that find their way into the supply from the mountains. Furthermore, the tap water is filtered and chlorinated. Chlorine, a very common disinfectant, is used frequently in water treatment plants in Spain. And it makes water taste and smell differently.

    WHAT ARE MY ALTERNATIVES?

    You can just drink the tap water if you’re not bothered by the taste! If you do not like the taste of the tap water, there are a few options.

    1. Many locals and tourists buy bottles water. It’s expensive and causes lots of plastic waste! Not the preferred option…
    2.  Look for filtered, refigerated water fountains. Now there are only three of them, located in the city’s busiest spots: the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, on the Malva-Rosa seafront, and in the City of Arts and Sciences, in the Turia. Hopefully more of these fountains will be installed soon.
    3. Use a water filter. This can be a simple jar; a filter connected to your valve; or something installed to your household’s water system. Carbon filters (e.g. Brita, Tapp Water) are quite cheap and very efficient at reducing or eliminating chlorine.
    4. Our favourite: go to one the many natural springs in the mountains. Many villages in the hills around Valencia have one. Bring as many empty jars as you can and sit down for a meditative refill session!

    water refill Valencia mountains

    We’d like to share some background information about these natural springs. The so called ‘aguaderos’ collected the water from the springs, filled the carts with pitchers and went down to the city and the villages to distribute it from door to door.  The trade of aguadero was perpetuated until recent times, when cars were replaced by trucks or vans. However, many ancient water fountains still exist in the mountain villages around Valencia (and in many other areas in Spain) and the water tastes delicious.

    TAP WATER IN VALENCIA – YOUR OPINION

    What do you think about the taste of tap water in Valencia? How does it compare to your home country? Leave us a comment below.

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    512.460 INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF PLASTICS A YEAR

    Imagine a hotel with 146 double rooms. Each guest uses 6 single-use plastic pieces for breakfast. With a 80% occupancy, this leads to 512,460 individual pieces of plastic in a year. And this is just from the breakfast service of one hotel… 

    The example above was illustrated by Travel Without Plastic. For years, this social enterprise is guiding the tourist sector how to reduce single-use plastics. They provide toolkits, workshops and they do consultancy. We are a big fan of their work. Today, we share some successful strategies to reduce single-use plastics and meet hygiene expectations.

    Hotel Jakarta, Amsterdam

    SINGLE USE PLASTICS IN HOTELS

    Many hotels still offer bathroom amenities, food and beverages in foam or single-use plastics. With the Covid-19 pandemic the use of unnecessary plastics seems to have increased. For example door seals or remote controls wrappers. What are alternative strategies? Jo Hendrickx, co-founder of Travel Without Plastic guides you through the following steps:

    4 TIPS FOR HOTELS TO REDUCE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND MEET HYGIENE EXPECTATIONS

    1. Only provide what is necessary. Less is more. Most customers will bring their own bathroom amenities. Do people need shoe-shine? Or cotton-pads? Remove them or make them available on request.
    2. Embrace refills. Bottle your own (filtered) water and make them available for free or for sale. Choose reusable bottles and wash them daily to ensure hygiene. In addition, you can think of refillable soap and shampoo dispensers.
    3. Don’t just switch to other single-use products. Some hotels replace single-use plastics with other materials. For example, a wooden comb or natural sponge. However, when used only one time this does not reduce the overall waste. So again, ask yourself: is this product necessary? If so, consider alternatives. First of all, prefer materials that can be recycled. Furthermore, pay attention to ‘compostable’ products: are they certified ‘home compostable’ or ‘commercially compostable’? Without suitable composting facilities available, try to avoid these products.
    4. Clear communication. There is a ‘perception’ that single-use is more hygienic. But often the opposite is true. Any product or surface can be contaminated with germs. Try to communicate room cleanliness in other ways. For example in the booking confirmation. Or with a verbal explanation at check-in.
    Substituting plastics for other materials is not always the best solution

    REDUCING PLASTIC = SAVING MONEY

    Following these four steps will not only reduce the waste stream, it can also save hotels a lot of money. Curious to find out how much? Or hungry for more tips? Then we recommend you to use the complete Travel Without Plastic guide and toolkit.

    ​GET IN TOUCH AND FURTHER READING ON REDUCING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS 

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    BEST PRACTICE: REFILL NOT LANDFILL & JAYA HOUSE

    Where do I find the nearest refill station near me? Try one of the free refill maps. Today we shed light on Refill Not Landfill (Refill the world). Refill Not Landfill is a global campaign aiming to reduce single-use plastics, in particular single-use drinking bottles. We spoke with co-founder Christian de Boer, a Dutchman based in Seam Reap, Cambodia.

    Christian de Boer
    Christian de Boer

    INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIAN DE BOER (C), CO-FOUNDER OF REFILL NOT LANDFILL

    RA: Can you tell us something about the plastic pollution in Cambodia?

    C: In Cambodia tourism is responsible for 4.6 million water bottles every month. People might think ‘it’s only one bottle’ but together it adds up. Few plastic bottles are recycled.

    infographic plastic problem
    Infographic plastic problem in Cambodia (Source: Refill Not Landfill)

    RA: Oh no! We really need tourists to use water refill stations. And that’s what you are trying to achieve with Refill Not Landfill. How do you operate?

    C: Any businesses can register themselves as Refill Station on our website. Individuals can also add venues. First you make a free account and then you can add refill stations. The map tells you where to find the closest refill station, using the Google Earth map. Secondly, we provide reusable bottles. They are sold individually and in bulk for partners. The bottles have a QR-code leading to the refill map.

    Example of Refill Not Landfill bottle

    RA: That’s great! How many refill stations are mapped already?

    C: The majority of refill stations on our map are in South-East Asia. Almost 400 in Cambodia and about 350 in Indonesia. But also in other countries, like Panama and New Zealand. We have integrated our map with refill stations shown in RefillMyBottle. So anyone opening the Refill Not Landfill map will also see the RefillMyBottle stations, and vice versa. 

    RA: That is something we as Refill Ambassadors also would love to see. There are so many interesting refill platforms like mymizu and Refill. Imagine they all work together, we can make a bigger impact.

    C: Absolutely! We are open for other parties to collaborate with us. 

    JAYA HOUSE: HIGH-END HOTEL & SINGLE-USE PLASTIC FREE

    RA: We’d like to ask you a personal question. You are a Dutchman living in Cambodia. How come?

    C: After some time working in France, Singapore and Vietnam I received a job offer in a well-known hotel in Cambodia. I worked there for a couple of years until starting my own hotel, Jaya House. In the same time I founded Refill Not Landfill together with Dean McLachlan.

    RA: How do you combine these activities?

    C: All work for Refill Not Landfill is done voluntary (unpaid). Dean and I pay the expenses ourselves. My main job is for Jaya House, a small luxurious hotel, where I work as hotel manager. I am putting our single-use plastic free philosophy into practice in the hotel.

    RA: Interesting! Can you give some examples of alternatives to single-use plastics?

    C: Guests are provided with filtered water in glass jars. They also receive their own Refill Not Landfill bottle that they can take home. Some hotel managers might be concerned about hygiene. But in all those years, guests never complained about the absence of plastic wrapping. Our staff is well trained and the filters we use are safe. It is in our benefit to keep our guests healthy.

    JAYA ORGANICS

    RA: We understand, no one wants to have sick customers! What more?

    C: We create our own natural skincare products. It is offered as an in-room amenity in glass bottles, and thus reducing the use of plastic. The brand ‘Jaya Organics’ is also available for purchase. Since all is handmade in Siem Reap it’s also creating much needed jobs and reducing the supply-line.

    C: Cambodia is a very poor country. We are very concerned with providing jobs to people with disabilities. Two farmers – landmine victims – cultivate bamboo to provide the bamboo straws. Now with Covid-19 it is very difficult but we keep supporting them.

    bamboo straw

    RA: Let’s hope tourists will visit soon again. Last question: what are your future plans?

    C:  I would like to continue our activities on a larger scale. It would be great when a company financially supports refill Not Landfill or incorporate it in their business. And I’d like to see more collaboration between refill apps. Maybe I fail in tackling the plastic problem, but at least I am trying.

    RA: That’s the spirit! Thank you for your time and we keep in touch!

    LEARN MORE ABOUT REFILL NOT LANDFILL

    Inspired by the interview? Learn more about Christian de Boer in this podcast with Alex Chuk (RefillMyBottle).

    Do you want to collaborate with Refill Not Landfill or do you have a question for Christian? Get in touch

    Note: All photos are provided by Christian de Boer

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    SEASPIRACY: STOP EATING FISH NOW

    We have all seen images of dead sea birds with their stomachs full of straws and bottle caps. Or a turtle entangled by a plastic wrapping. According to IUCN, at least 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans annually. Redusing single-use plastics is not enough: the fishing industry needs to drastically change too. What you can do? Stop eating fish. The documentary Seaspiracy explains why.

    SEASPIRACY: SAVE THE OCEANS, STOP EATING FISH

    • Industrial fishing has wiped out 90% of the world’s large fish.
    • 70% of macro plastic at sea comes from fishing gear.
    • Plastic straws only comprise 0.03% of plastic entering the ocean.

    These are three of many claims made in Seaspiracy. The documentary depicts the fishing industry’s impact on our oceans and marine life. I am shocked!

    Seaspiracy is causing a lot of debate. Some people say the statistics are false or outdated. I am not a journalist or fact-checker myself. But I recommend you to watch this documentary. Even if some statistics are exaggerated or wrongly estimated, you still get an idea of the problem. And it provides solutions what you can do as consumer to make a change. Numer one: stop eating fish!

    REDUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS IS STILL IMPORTANT

    Film director Ali Tabrizi also states that a global campaign to ban the use of plastic straws “was like trying to save the Amazon rainforest and stop logging by boycotting toothpicks”. We acknowledge that plastic straws and other single-use plastics is only one part of the problem.

    The fishing industry needs to drastically change its methods to catch fish. Sustainable labels like MSC or ASC need to examined. And we as consumers should cut down our fish intake. Many communities still depend on fishing for their livelihoods. Or for food. Therefore, we need to make a transition.

    Still, we think refusing and reducing single-use plastics remains equally important. To save our marine life and precious resources. So we as Refill Ambassadors will keep raising awareness. For example where to find public fountains.

    Wall painting in Faro, Portugal (source: Refill Ambassadors)

    We are curious to hear your opinion on the documentary Seaspiracy. Hurray, please leave your comment behind!

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    BULK STORE BRUSSEL – ZERO WASTE SHOP

    Plastic packaging is a large and growing part of our daily household waste. There are many options to reduce your daily waste. A nice way is to shop at (plastic) packaging-free stores, also called bulk stores. The food is stored in large containers and you fill your own jars or bags. We visited De Bio Markt / Le Marché Bio des Tanneurs in Brussels, Belgium. 

    DE BIO MARKT TANNEURS / LE MARCHÉ BIO DES TANNEURS, BRUSSELS

    When entering the store, we immediately got excited. The building itself is very spacious with colourful wall paintings. First stop: the fuits and vegetables. Mainly organic and seasonal products, straight from the field!

    plastic free shopping

    The shopping continues with cheese and the (vegan) milk and yoghurt section. Then we arrive in the best part: the containers. Here you can find most basic ingredients: pasta, flower, rice, various nuts and seeds, all stored in large containers. We also love the oil refill corner and the herbs.

    HOW TO SHOP IN A BULK STORE?

    1. Do I need to bring my own jars and bags? Visiting a bulk store works best with a little preparation. Bring your own jars, small bags or boxes and large shopping bag. But no worries, there are paper bags available in the store. For the (olive) oil you can make use of glass bottles.
    2. Glass jars are heavy. How is the price calculated? At the check-out, the weight of the jar is deducted from the total weight. Tip: if you bring your own glass jars, write down its weight with a permanent marker.
    3. Is everything in a bulk-store packaging-free? Not necessarily. In this store, some food is pre-packed, either in cardboard, glass or plastic. For example dairy products and honey. We even spotted 1.5 L single-use water bottles, which we found a bit strange. But overall, you can buy most stuff packaging-free. A huge improvement compared to regular supermarkets.
    4. Is it expensive? Well, this depends of course on the type of food that you buy. Many times you will save money, because you do not fill your basket on automatic-pilot. Plus it allows you to buy only the amount you need!

    MORE BULK STORES IN BRUSSELS

    The store we visited is located in the Huidevettersstraat 58 / rue des Tanneurs 58 in Brussels. They also have stores in Gent and Antwerpen. In this website, you can find a list of other packaging-free stores in Brussels.

    ZERO WASTE INSPIRATION

    We are looking forward to hear your experience with packaging free stores. Interested in this topic? Try one of the following reads:

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    REFILME: BRAZIL’S 1st WATER REFILL APP

    Good news for Brazil: the first water refill initiative has started! RefilMe provides free, cold and filtered tap water. After seeing lots of plastic on beaches while traveling, sisters Flávia and Isabela wanted to make a change in their own country Brazil and they founded RefilMe. Read this blog to learn more about this project and their approach.

    INTERVIEW WITH FLÁVIA VITOI ROSA DE SOUZA, CO-FOUNDER OF REFILME (IN BRAZIL)

    What is RefilMe?

    F: RefilMe is a new start up aiming to reduce plastic waste in Brazil. We do this by offering free, cold water refills and by creating awareness.

    refilme water machine
    RefilMe water refill machine (source: RefilMe)

    Free, cold and filtered water, amazing! Especially when you think about the hot weather in Brazil. Why, where and when did you started RefilMe?

    F: The idea started while we were traveling in Bali, Indonesia. There was a lot of plastic on the beach. We could not drink the tap water and had to buy plastic bottles or look for refill stations. We wanted to do something similar in Brazil. We started in the city of Cuiabá and Vitória in December of 2020.  We designed the machine and the app and website ourselves. The first machine was placed in Cuiabá in December ’20. Right now we are also present in 3 other cities. And we want to spread more in Brazil.

    THE REFILME FREE WATER REFILL MACHINE

    How do people respond so far?

    F: So far so good! Users are happy because it is free and the water is cold. In one park we had to temporarily remove the machine and several people are asking when it’s coming back.

    Let’s hope it will be back soon. How do consumers know where the machines are located?

    F: All machines are mapped on the Refil Me app. The app is available in Brazil for iOS and Android.

    RefilMe app mobile phone interface
    Using the RefilMe app to locate refill stations (source: RefilMe)

    LEARNING BY DOING

    Sweet! So you are Brazil’s 1st refill app?!

    F: Yes, we think so. We do not know about another one.

    Great to have you on board of the #Refillution! And cool that you did all this work so far. You seem to be designers, activists and business women altogether. What is your professional background?

    F: Haha, thank you. I am a chemical engineer with a master in sustainable development. My sister Isabela is a process engineer. And we developed new skills during the past year.

    Image RefilMeteam Isabela and Flavia
    The RefilMe founders: Isabela and Flávia (source: RefilMe)

    THE REFILME BUSINESS MODEL

    We are curious about your business model. The water is free but the machines are not. How does it work?

    F We have a partnership with a start-up accelerator. And we work with sponsors, for example private water treatment companies or a shopping mall. The sponsor pays for the water machine. We give them advice where to place them.

    TAP WATER IN BRAZIL

    Interesting business model, maybe suitable for many refill initiatives all over the world. Another question. The machines chill and filter ‘normal’ water. Can you drink tap water in Brazil?

    F: Yes, tap water in Brazil is potable in most places. The normal tap water has a bit of a chlorine taste. Our machines use a carbon filter to remove this flavour.

    Good to know! Are there any public fountains in Brazil? 

    F: Yes they exist. But the water can be warm and some fountains are not maintained well. And now with Covid people trust them even less.

    Do you also face difficulties due to the situation with Covid?

    F: Well, it is challenging because the lockdown rules change all the time. Luckily our machines are touchless. You just need to use the RefilMe app.

    Even more reasons to enjoy the RefilMe cold water. Good luck Flávia and Isabela and enjoy the adventures ahead!

    Example of free water refill machine
    Easy to spot this machine! (Source: RefilMe)

    FOLLOW REFILME BRASIL

    What a nice and inspiring conversation we had. It feels Isabela and Flávia take care of all parties involved, starting from the user that is looking for free, cold water. While also taking into account the sponsors’ needs. If you have tips for RefilMe or want to collaborate, don’t hesitate and get in touch with the sisters.

    Follow RefilMe on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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    CHEAP AND QUICK SOLUTION: BRITA WATER FILTER

    Chlorine and chloramine are added to tap water to make it safe for drinking. They have no negative health impact, but they affect the taste and odor. As a result, many people buy bottled water. What a waste! With a small and cheap water filter, the chlorine taste and odor is reduced to almost zero. Refill Ambassadors Félice and Hella tested a BRITA filter in the South of France.  

    brita water filter
    • How does it work? We could not find much information about the filter itself, except that it is a carbon filter system. The BRITA water filter looks like a simple plastic jug. You fill it with tap water and wait approximately 30 seconds. Pour the filtered water in your glass and enjoy!
    • What about the taste? We are very positive. The chlorine taste and odor are close to zero and the water is softer.
    • How much does it cost? This depends on the model and the country where you buy it. For example the “Brita® Everyday Water Pitcher” costs 35 dollars, including one filter. The filter needs to be replaced after every +/- 150 liter or 450 liter if you choose the long-lasting filter. Check out the prices for filters here. In total, you’ll spend a few cents per liter.
    • What about the environment? By using a water filter, you help prevent plastic waste (compared to buying single-use plastic bottles). According to the BRITA website, 1.800 plastic bottles are replaced per year if you use a Brita® system vs. buying bottled water. Almost all BRITA filter cartridges are recyclable (we advise you to choose the long lasting filter). Some models provide a sticker calendar indicator when to replace the filter. All products are BPA-free.
    Filter explained (source: Brita.com)

    MORE ABOUT BRITA

    BRITA was founded in 1966 by Heinz Hankammer in Taunusstein, Germany. Since then, it has grown to a worldwide firm with almost 2.000 employees.

    The BRITA HQ (source Brita.nl)

    LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER FILTERS

    To conclude: we think this is a cheap and simple solution for countries where tap water is potable but not very tasty. But BRITA is not the only option. Read our blog about TAPP.

    We’re eager to learn more about water filters and other brands. Please share your experience with us.

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    HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    In a few hours we’ll welcome the year 2021… We wish you all the best for the new year and we hope we can continue the refill spirit together with you. 

    Perhaps you have some eco-friendly new year resolutions. Like eating more local and seasonal food. Or going on holiday by bike. Or reducing your (plastic) waste. We heard the more public you make your commitment to these resolutions, the more likely you are to stick to them. So, if you want, share them below!

    Lots of love from Amsterdam,

    Roos, Madelief, Félice and Hella

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    FRIENDLY REMINDER! REFILL STARTS FROM HOME

    Did you know that refill can start from home?

    Some parts of the world are still going through lockdowns ue to COVID-19. Wherever you are, we encourage you to stay safe at home as much as possible. But if you ever need to go out or when things get back to normal, we’d love to remind you of the many alternatives to single-use!

    Image source: RefillMyBottle

    It’s not only about refilling your water bottle but about all other things you can refill and reuse especially when going for groceries. There are many home delivery services that now provide refills too! Or if you go out for a take-away, bring your boxes, go for a walk and pick it up on the way home.

    Together with other initiatives around the world – including RefillMyBottle, refillnz, mudfishnoplastic, ThantMM, RefillTheYangon and waterid_ – we remind you that #RefillStartsFromHome.

    Image source: RefillMyBottle

    SHARE YOUR #REFILLSTARTSFROMHOME TIP

    Let’s be an inspiration to others and share with us how you are living the #refillution at home! Please share your number one refill tip – how to refill starts from home – in the comment below.

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    EARTH: ‘SELL WATER FOR WATER’

    EARTH is known for its bottled water, coffee and tea. You might be wondering: “Bottled water? I thought Refill Ambassadors is promoting tap water.” Yes we do. But EARTH has an interesting story, which we’d like to share with you. By selling bottled water, tea and coffee, they have been able to donate over €1.5 million to various water projects. We interviewed co-founder Patrick de Nekker.

    EARTH founders Patrick de Nekker (l) and Henk Witteveen (r)

    INTERVIEW WITH PATRICK DE NEKKER, CO-FOUNDER EARTH

    When and how did you start EARTH?

    In 2007, together with Henk Witteveen I founded EARTH Water/ EARTH Concepts. The idea was (and still is) to ‘sell water for water’. 100% of our net profit is invested in sustainable water systems around the world. Later we added EARTH Coffee and EARTH Tea, in response to our customers’ demands. We also experiment with EARTH Cacao, depending on supplies.

    Where do you source your products?

    Our water is from a small water source named Anl’eau, located in the province of Drenthe (the Netherlands). EARTH Tea comes from Sri Lanka, EARTH Coffee is from Nicaragua, Guatamala and  Peru and our cocoa from Cameroon. On the latter we hardly make money as profits remain overseas.

    Where are your products sold?

    We are a B2B brand. Our products are sold in restaurants, hotels, at events and in the catering industry. Plus in some large chains like Starbucks and IKEA. Our water is also sold in China.

    Your water is transported from the Netherlands to China?

    Yes. You can debate whether that is good or bad. Quality of tap water in China is not always good, so there is a demand for our water. And we want to earn as much money as possible to donate to people who are in need of clean water.

    Example of water project in Mali (Source: EARTH)

    That is an interesting discussion indeed. We will not go into details now.

    TAP WATER VS. BOTTLED WATER

    Another question: tap water in the Netherlands is of really good quality. You sell bottled water. And you use plastic packaging. Can you explain why?

    The way we look at it: preferably drink tap water. If that’s not possible then drink EARTH WATER. Our bottled water is useful in places that do not have tap water available, like outdoor festivals. And for people who do not trust tap water.

    Plastic has many advantages and recycling possibilities. But it has received negative input because it has entered our food chain due to human behaviour. Our packaging is made out of 100% recycled PET, and we use Tetra Pak’s. We’ve been offering recycled PET bottles for 10 years, Coca-Cola just started. Many companies now donate 5 or 10 cents to charities, while we make a 100% donation of our profits (after deducting our fixed costs). As a result, people support our brand.

    EARTH Water in rrecycled PET bottles and Tetra Pak

    15 CENT DEPOSIT ON SMALL PLASTIC BOTTLES

    Nice to hear people support your brand. However, many people support Coca-Cola too. Their revenues keep growing, also in bottled water. We want your opinion on something else. From 2021, a 15 cent deposit will be introduced on small plastics bottles in the Netherlands*. What do you think about this?

    I’m a supporter of deposit systems. But I doubt deposit of 15 cents will make a difference. With €0,50 for sure, but will you stand in the queue at McDonalds to get a €0,15 refund for your bottle? In the end it’s about clients demands. I would also be in favour of heavier fines if you litter the streets. Comparable to using a mobile phone on a bicycle. Then people don’t do it anymore.

    Interesting thinking. Hopefully the 15 cent deposit system will already be effective, but this we can only found out in the future. We’d like to ask you something else. Not all your ‘water products’ is packaged. You also offer water tap systems with filters. Can you tell us more about those?

    Our tap systems filter and chill tap water. They have a luxurious appearance. Venues also donate to our water project ‘6 Mile’ when using our taps. It’s like a subscription model.

    Our clients can decide for themselves how much they want to charge their customers for consumption. It raises interesting questions like “How much extra value does a filter provide?” Bottled water in general has a very low purchase price. And it’s being sold for a high price. For example in Dutch restaurants you sometimes pay 6 euros for a 1 L water bottle. I have some difficulty with this.

    Yes we totally agree! 6 euros for 1 L water really is a lot!

    FUTURE VISIONS ON BOTTLED DRINKS

    We could talk for another hour but it’s time to wrap up. Is there something else you would like to share with our readers?

    Yes! There are many debates about bottled water. But I think it is important to treat water similar to sodas. You don’t want to force people to buy a Coke because they can’t buy water in a plastic bottle.

    And perhaps we should tackle issues on a different level. Like a ban on all packaged drinks. Then we may start to think in completely different business cases. For example fill your own cup with Red Bull via a machine.

    That will be interesting. We’re sure you’ll be creative enough to continue with EARTH Concepts even in a world without packaging. Thank you for your honesty Patrick and good luck with EARTH.

    *the 15 cent deposit on small plastics bottles is somewhat different for the catering industry, because they are not forced to return their bottles. One can say; go to the supermarket to get your 15 cent. And that is the bottleneck is this discussion.

    CONNECT WITH EARTH

    Our interview with Patrick was inspiring. Things are not always black and white. Doing good sometimes means making sacrifices. Without the sales of bottled water (and tea and coffee), Patrick and his team would not have been able to donate >1.5 million to projects that are so desperately needed.

    Henk (l) and Patrick (r) announce EARTH Water surpassed the 1.5 million euros in donations, 2019. (Source: EARTH Concepts)

    Do you have questions for Patrick and his team? Or do you want to share your vision on the EARTH concept? Leave your comment behind or get in touch with patrick@earthwater.nl

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    NO EXCUSE FOR SINGLE USE

    Locate your drinking water refill spot, grab a coffee in your reusable cup on your way to work and  shop without using single-use plastics. Today, Refill is launching a better version of the app and a new campaign called ‘no excuse for single use’. We are really excited about this. Refill will be the 1st app (as far as we know) to find where to eat, drink and shop without packaging. The free Refill app helps you to reduce plastic packaging. And you can help them too!

     

    REFILL APP – WHAT’S NEW?

    Click the icons on the map to find places where you can bring your own containers or buy items packaging free! 

    Image: Refill.org.uk

    NO EXCUSE FOR SINGLE USE 

    You may wonder how many plastics items are being used worldwide. Thanks to Refill, we can share some numbers with you (sources are provided in the links). 

    ABOUT REFILL (REFILL.ORG.UK) 

    Refill started as a water refill campaign in Bristol in 2015. Refill is part of City to Sea, a Community Interest Company campaigning to prevent plastic pollution at the source. Bottled water is a serious issue in the U.K. and across the globe. However, the issue of plastic pollution is much BIGGER than bottled water. Therefore, the Refill Team decided to expand the app to all sorts of refills. Their vision is a world where everyone has the power to choose to reuse and refill wherever they shop, eat or drink. We totally support their work. Read more about Refill’s history.

    JOIN: DOWNLOAD THE REFILL APP AND START REFILLING

    Are you ready to join the #refillution? Download the Refill app (available for iOS and Android). The app already shows >30.000 places offering free drinking water globally.

    Do you have your own café, shop or restaurant?

    Pointless packaging poster (source: Refill)
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    CLEANUP CAMPAIGNS: HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?

    Last week, it was World Cleanup Day.  In total, 39.324 people took part in the Netherlands, and hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. I also assembled a small team to clean the streets and parks in my neighbourhood in Amsterdam. Within a few hours, we collected 4 big bin bags. Many people praised us and it felt rewarding. However, five days later the streets were littered again. This made me wonder about the effectiveness of these cleanup events and organisations. Do they help or do they harm?

    WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLASTIC LITTER?

    The Amsterdam municipality claims if 25% of the Dutch would clean up 1 piece of litter per day, there would be no more litter. There is even a campaign “Elke dag eentje” (one piece every day). This sounds fantastic, but it’s not very realistic. Furthermore, one could argue who is responsible for doing so: civilians or the Fast Moving Consumer Good industry?

    Cleanup Campaign “Elke dag eentje”

    To dive into this topic I did not have do my own research. This month, Tamar Stelling (author at The Correspondent) highlighted several issues around the plastic industry. Since her article“Briljant bedacht: hoe de plasticindustrie het idee verkoopt dat de burger z’n ‘eigen’ plastic op moet ruimen” is in Dutch, we’ll give a brief summary here.

    The article frequently quotes Rob Buurman, director of Recycling Network Benelux. In his opinion, the (Ddutch) government perpetuates the story of the plastics industry: that the problem with plastic is mainly that citizens leave it lying around. “As long as there is the idea that we should clean up our plastic waste” ourselves “, the government is not thinking about legislation to prevent plastic waste – and it should.”

    WHAT ABOUT CLEAN UP ORGANISATIONS?

    Rob Buurman feels clean-ups and other end of pipe initiatives legitimize the lack of action of politicians. For example The Ocean Cleanup wants to clean up 40 thousand tons of plastics from our oceans in five years. This may sound like a lot – and it’s better than any organisation has ever done – but it’s only 0.0008 percent of 5,000 million tons of ‘loose’ plastic. Buurman: “The more successful Boyan Slat is in the media, the less it matters what you realize in terms of government policy. Because you have made the problem private, you have placed it with individuals in society, instead of with the government. “

    The Ocean Cleanup (Source: theoceancleanup.com)

    COMPLETE BAN ON DISPOSABLE PLASTICS

    So what kind of measurements could politicians take? Soft measures have not been very effective. For example in the Netherlands there is a mandatory price (e.g. €0,05) for plastic bags. Disposable paper bags have not been addressed. And many shops, bakers and greengrocers still sell everything in free disposable bags. Similarly, my cleanup day was not too effective in the end. Tomorrow, new litter will be on the streets.

    The article advocates a complete ban or mandatory environmental tax on disposables (which is done in Ireland). It will be easier to enforce. The good news is that a 15 cent deposit system on small plastic bottles will be introduced next year in the Netherlands. Plus a production ban by the EU will apply for disposable plastics such as plastic cutlery, cotton buds, stirrers and straws. Last week our cleanup team found lots of these bastards, which made us wonder: why clean your ears on the streets?

    Disposable plastics ending up in oceans (Source: EU)

    PRODUCERS SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD

    Governments are not the only ones to take action. The article suggests producers should take more responsibility, as they can make choices that consumers cannot make. Which products they market, how they design them and how they collect waste, whether or not in collaboration with other companies.

    The article also sheds light on the NGO Alliance to End Plastic Waste. Plastic producers and waste processing companies such as Procter & Gamble, Shell, DSM, ExxonMobil or Pepsico aim to put in a billion euros, to be spent on clean-up campaigns, new recycling technology and better waste collection infrastructure. The founding companies behind this self-styled alliance to end plastic waste are among the world’s biggest investors in new plastic productions plants (source: Guardian). For example, ExxonMobil is building a new polyethylene production line in Texas that will soon produce 2.5 million tons of plastic – making it one of the largest plastic factories in the world. Shell is building a plant in Pennsylvania that will make 1.6 million tons of polyethylene per year.

    HELPFUL OR HARMFUL? SHARE YOUR OPINION

    After reading the full article I had mixed feelings. I still think cleanup campaigns, events and organisations are good, because some litter is collected (and every piece counts!). Cleanup campaigns increase awareness on the huge amount of packaging we use. And even if we were to prevent new plastics from littering, we still need to clean up the mess we already made. However, I also agree with the Tamar Stelling’s article. It would be better if governments and producers invest mainly in prevention. And enforce stricter bans on disposable plastics.

    I’m really curious about your opinion. Do cleanup campaigns help or harm? Please post your comment below.

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    POEM: DO NOT TRY TO SAVE THE WHOLE WORLD

    The Coronavirus has changed some of our familiar routines. You might worry where this will lead and when it will end. But it is also an ideal time to change our habits: to develop healthy ones and let go of those that don’t serve us. Neither you nor your environment. How do you make choices? Wait until you have found something that moves you. We really love this poem by Martha Postlethwaite, so we’d like to share it with you:

    “Do not try to save
    the whole world
    or do anything grandiose.
    Instead, create
    a clearing
    in the dense forest
    of your life
    and wait there
    patiently,
    until the song
    that is yours alone to sing
    falls into your open cupped hands
    and you recognize and greet it.
    Only then will you know
    how to give yourself
    to this world so worthy of rescue.”

    Forest in Spain

    DO NOT TRY TO SAVE THE WORLD, BUT DO SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO YOU

    What do you want to contribute?

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    REFILL DEUTSCHLAND: GERMANY’S UNIQUE GRASSROOTS REFILL MOVEMENT

    Refill Deutschland (Refill Germany) recently celebrated its third birthday. So far, this nationwide refill organisation has put 5.400 refill stations and public drinking fountains on the map. From the start, all team members have worked voluntary. Even more interesting: it has grown into an open community project, where everyone can join. In this interview, Refill Deutschland founder Stephanie Wiermann and content writer Louisa Bahl explain how they operate.

    INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE AND LOUISA, REFILL DEUTSCHLAND

    Stephanie, you founded Refill Deutschland in March 2017. How come?

    Stephanie: I was inspired by Refill (UK), Refill Bali and Refill NY and wanted to bring the concept to my city, Hamburg. So, I created the website, designed the window stickers and Refill Deutschland was born. My initial plan was to operate just in Hamburg. But soon after, people from other German cities showed interest, too. This is how it turned into a national movement.

    That makes sense. You probably picked the right time to start. And word of mouth can be powerful. We’ll talk about that later. Could you tell us a bit about the team and about yourselves?

    Stephanie: Sure! Our core Refill Deutschland team currently consists of Michael, Louisa and me. Another 5 volunteers join us regularly and we are very happy about their work in the field of social media and research. And then we have community-volunteers all over the country. As for me, I work in web design and graphic design. Last year I started a wild herbs cooking school. In our backyards and all around us the delicious and healthy wild herbs are growing but we lost the knowledge about it. I want to bring them back in our lives.

    Stephanie Wiermann. Copyright Sabine Büttner

    Louisa: I joined the team about in January 2019, but I noticed the project already in September 2018, when I saw a small article in a magazine. I have always been interested in water and wrote my first school project about Nestlés drinking water projects with the age of 17. As I wanted to engage for something connected to the environment and especially water,  Refill Deutschland is a good fit. I am the content writer for Refill Deutschland.

    Louisa Bahl, content writer Refill Deutschland

    EASY AND ACCESIBLE

    Happy to hear that. You all run this project as volunteers. Is that a conscious decision or out of necessity? 

    Stephanie: We have discussed this topic a lot. Of course, we could try to sell our own branded bottles or look for sponsors as most refill initiatives do, but this means other commitments. We keep coming back to the same ideals: as easy and as accessible as possible. In addition, we want to lower the boundaries to refill, even a jam jar is suitable!

    Therefore, we keep our operational costs as low as possible. I maintain the website and we have a set of banners. New refill stations print or order their own window sticker.  Our communities (in various German cities) also choose the low-cost DIY approach, for example when organising campaigns.

    Refill Deutschland awareness campaign run by volunteers in the city of Jena, Germany

     

    Louisa: I think we all are intrinsically motivated to change the ways how we consume and how we pollute, so we all invest our free time for the good. And as Stephanie said, we all agree that our guidelines – that we want to stay independent and open and free to all who want to join – are an outstanding signal of Refill Deutschland. We had more than 50 cities, in which people were organizing the Refill cities, and at some more than twenty distribution stations you can pick up the blue stickers for free.

    Refill Deutschland sticker
    Refill Deutschland window sticker. Copyright Jens Peter Wedlich Schüttgut

    Ah nice! At Refill Ambassador we have a very similar approach. We all work as volunteers too. How do you balance the amount of time and effort you spend on this project?

    Stephanie: It’s a lot of fun. In case you’re thinking about starting a refill platform in your own country, just do it! Now is the right momentum.

    Louisa: As in my opinion, Refill Deutschland is an important step to reduce plastic waste and revalue our tap water, I would love to do more, also because I really like writing, particularly about topics which are close to my heart It has to fit with my master degree, my student jobs, and as it is all voluntarily, also with hobbies and seeing family and friends. But luckily, there is no strict schedule for publishing new blogs. I basically write when I’ve time and when there is something meaningful to share.

    Stephanie: At some point, it got too much. We were sending out window stickers, lobbying for new refill stations, manually adding refill stations to the map, etc. So last summer, we decided to change our approach. Louisa, Michael and me would still facilitate Refill Deutschland, but the communities would take care of themselves. We redesigned the website, altered texts and made it easier for others to add refill stations.

    Wow! And how did that go?

    Stephanie: It felt like letting go of my ‘baby’, but it went surprisingly smooth. The number of refill stations on our map is still growing, albeit a bit slower than at first.

    ADDING REFILL STATIONS TO THE MAP

    The refill stations are listed on the ‘Karte von Morgen’ map. How does this work?

    Louisa: It is an open source app. On our website, you can add both public fountains as well as enterprises. By using 4 hashtags #refill #refill-station #trinkwasser #leitungswasser (tap water) users can find the refill station in the Karte von Morgen website or app (available in beta-version).

    Can any venue be a refill station?

    Stephanie: Some people wonder whether we should add restrictions. Could an 18+ adult store be a refill station? Or what about large coffeehouse chains, who serve all take-away drinks in single-use plastics? These are tricky questions. We decided not to take stands here. Everybody should be able to join the network. The more stations the better.

    Louisa: Again, the community is self-supporting here. When people have bad experiences with a certain refill station, or when the refill station is not in use anymore they can give online feedback. Or even delete the station.

    Refill stations and public fountains in Hamburg, Germany. Source: Karte von Morgen

    I agree. You cannot control everything. Plus, people can always choose to not use certain refill stations. Last question: where do you think Refill Deutschland will be in five years?

    Stephanie: I don’t know, I’ll be almost 60 years old by then! Let’s hope we do not need Refill Deutschland anymore. Because refilling and drinking tap water even at home has become completely normal.

    Louisa: I would hope so, too. But nah, I think we’ll still be there informing and inspiring the public, because as with other sustainable changes, it probably needs more time sadly…

    Cool! In the meantime, we’ll keep you up to date on the latest developments. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, Stephanie and Louisa. Tschüss!

    JOIN THE MOVEMENT

    Refill Deutschland hardly uses promotional materials due to environmental concerns, so let us help them with a bit of promo here on this blog…

    Do you have a venue in Germany and would you like to become a refill station too? Great! It is fairly simple:

    1. print/order your Refill Deutschland window sticker and optionally a poster;
    2. list your refill station on the map;
    3. invite thirsty refillers;
    4. (optional) add your refill station to other international refill apps, (read our blog for more information).

    Follow Refill Deutschland on facebook

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    TAP WATER AT CAMINO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

    Is Santiago de Compostela tap water safe to drink? Yes, it’s very safe! Last month, I walked a part of the Camino del Norte (the northern Spain coastal route). We were amazed by the beautiful scenery, but also by the large number of refill stations. And the taste of tap water was quite good. However, some water fountains were out of order and we got a bit thirsty! In addition, many hostels were closed due to Covid-19 (for the entire year). Therefore we’d like to share some tips with you.

    TIPS TO STAY HYDRATED

    • How much water should you bring? Take enough water with you on your walks but don’t overdo it. It’s just too heavy! We took 1 L per person. This was enough with the exception of two stages (day 4: from Deba to Markina–Xemein; and day 5: from Markina-Xemein to Guernika). So bring a bit more on remote routes.
    • Pay attention that water fountains are suitable for consumption. “No potable” indicates that you cannot drink the water.
    • Very important: frequently drink small amounts to stay well hydrated.
    • Make sure your drinking equipment is easy to clean.
    • Bring a lightweight thermos flask. Cold water is a big reward when walking 8 hours a day.  
    • Make sure you know roughly where you will be able to refill. Many public fountains are listed on the water refill app Closca. You can also ask the friendly locals for help. ‘Where can I refill my water bottle?’ = Non bete dezaket ur botila (in Basque) / ¿Dónde puedo rellenar mi botella de agua? (in Spanish)
    Locating refill stations (mainly public fountains) in Spain with the Closca app

    Note: we walked the northern coastal route (from Irun to Güemes). We brought our own tent and camping equipment. This came in handy as many hostels were closed due to Covid-19. We heard from other pilgrims that facilities on the Camino Francés are generally better (including food, lodging and water fountains), but we do not know about possible changes due to Covid-19.

    ABOUT THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO / WAY OF ST. JAMES

    Each year thousands of pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago (also known as Way of St. James). This route is a network of pilgrims’ ways or pilgrimages leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain.

    Network of pilgrim’s ways – Source: Wikipedia
    • The Camino Francés (870 km) is by far the most popular route. It starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (France) and passes Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León. Hostels or monasteries are located about every four to ten kilometres.
    • The Camino Portugués is the second most popular way. The route starts in Lisbon or Porto. From Porto there are two options: the Camino Central (241 km) and the Camino Costal (265 km).
    • The Camino del Norte (the one we did) is an 817 km coastal route from Irun (Basque country) along the northern coastline of Spain. The route passes through San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander and Oviedo. It is less crowded and the hikes can be challenging. Hostels are 20 to 35 kilometres apart.

    SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE!

    Do you have tips for other pilgrims? How much water should they take? What other gear do they need to bring? And which hostels are closed due to Covid-19? Please share your tips.

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    PLOGGING: RUNNING & STRETCHING FOR A CAUSE

    I have a new hobby: plogging. This means running while picking up litter. The word plogging is derived from ‘placka’ (to pick in Swedish) and jogging. We all want clean parks, streets and forests. What if we collect not just our own trash, but also our neighbours’? Be prepared, plogging is addictive! 

    Plogging

    In a few months I hope to run my first marathon. Therefore I try to run three times a week. To make it more challenging I started to pick up trash along the way. It felt a bit weird in the beginning, but now it’s part of the drill. Tiny plastic candy wraps, cans, cigarette boxes and of course many empty plastic bottles. I invite you all to give it a try. Running for a cause while sweating a bit more! When I don’t feel like running (quite often!) I walk while picking up trash. So for those who are not into running, try trashwalking instead. Tip: bring your own bin bag in areas with fewer trash cans.

    GLOBAL CLEANUP INITIATIVES

    Do you want to participate in a group? Try one of these initiatives:

    • World Cleanup Day – coming up on Saturday September 19, 2020 (worldwide event). Its goal is to raise awareness of the global waste problem and help in finding sustainable solutions to the global trash problem. 
    • Trashpackers brings tourists in touch with local communities to gather litter. Last year, 10.924 people joined the challenge. Anyone can create a new Trashpacker Event. 
    • Many countries organise their own beach cleanup tours, although some events are cancelled this year because of Covid-19. 

    Both World Cleanup Day and Trashpackers aim to better understand the scale of the global waste problem by visualising the data collected. So when you join, please help the organisation by using their app to register the collected waste.

    JOIN US ON WORLD CLEANUP DAY

    Do you want to join the Refill Ambassador cleaning team in Amsterdam on World Cleanup Day? When: Saturday, September 19, 2020. Please send us a message.

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    REFILLME: A NEW REFILL PROJECT IN MYANMAR

    Can you get a water refill in Myanmar? Yes you can! Today we want to inform you about a promising new refill project, situated in Yangon, Myanmar. Last year, three ambitious students founded RefillMe. Starting small, dreaming big. We just met and immediately became fans. Sit back and enjoy our interview with Haling Min Aung, co-founder of RefillMe.

    INTERVIEW WITH HALING MIN AUNG, REFILLME (YANGON, MYANMAR)

    Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and your role at Refill Me Yangon?

    Mingalarpar! My name is Haling Min Aung. I work in Earth Day Network Myanmar as an assistant manager, while also managing communications at RefillMe. Furthermore I am an activist educator in Yangon. I strongly believe that climate change should be taught in every school as the future of our Earth depends on our ability to take action.

    Mingalarpar (what an amazing way to say hello)! Why and when did you start this project?

    After completing an environmental studies program from the University of Yangon, we decided to tackle environmental issues in Myanmar by initiating projects. We initiated the first one, RefillMe, in November 2019.

    So you already completed the first half year. We’ll talk more about the project soon. But first: who are ‘we’? Can you tell something about the team?

    Sure! Other team members are my classmates from the environmental studies program. My teammate Aung Pyi Soe coordinates the RefillMe project and fellow teammate Ye Myo Zaw conducts the refill pilot in Yangon.

    The RefillMe team

    That’s nice. Many environmental projects (including Refill Ambassadors) start with only one advocate, and RefillMe already has three. What did you do with the refill pilot in Myanmar? How did it go so far?

    The refill pilot is carried out to address issues and challenges faced during the registration process of public refill stations. It is successfully done in two townships of Yangon by using observational study as a means for gathering information. Currently, we are working together with Thant Myanmar to map Yangon (Thant Myanmar is a non-profit organisation, aiming to reduce the use and dependency on single-use plastics).

    • Refill station Myanmar on the street
      Refill station on the streets of Yangon
    • Refill station in a bakery, Yangon
      Refill station in Yangon Bakehouse

    Very smart, we highly recommend people to team up with other NGO’s and (local) action groups. Together, we can create more awareness. What kind of bottles do people use when they refill in Myanmar?

    Refillers use aluminium bottles, stainless steel bottles and polycarbonate bottles. Reusing PET bottles is also common in Myanmar.

    TAP WATER IN MYANMAR

    Mmm, just like we do in the Netherlands. Here we drink directly from the tap. How is tap water quality in Myanmar? Do local people drink tap water? Or do you drink with filters?

    There is strict regulation for water quality that is supplied, however water quality varies from region to region. Factors like flooding, lack of safe water storage, old infrastructures and pipes affect the water quality. That is why people don’t drink right out of the tap. Households use filter or boil the water for consumption.

    Water ATM, Yangon

    Good to know. Another question: is there plastic deposit on plastic bottles in Myanmar? How is the plastic recycling infrastructure?

    To our knowledge, there is no formal plastic deposit on bottles in Myanmar but you can get some cash back by selling plastic bottles to waste collectors. Recycling activities in Myanmar are carried out mostly by the informal sector, which includes scavengers, waste collectors, and waste dealers. These scavengers and waste collectors collect recyclable materials such as newspapers, books, cardboards, metal, plastic bottles, tin and glass from households, commercial areas and streets and in turn sell these items to waste dealers who clean and sell them to the recycling industry both locally and for export. We also have local plastic recycling start-ups and NGOs.

    That sounds a bit chaotic but it can work. We think avoiding and reducing single-use plastics is better than recycling, but plastic-recycling can be useful to create new materials. And some people make a living out of it. We are curious to learn more about these recycling start-ups. And of course, to learn more about RefillMe, but we won’t steal any more time. Last question: what are your next steps?

    We plan to look for new partners to facilitate our project expansion. RefillMe is more than just adding stations to reduce plastic consumption. Our team is using a more holistic approach to consider things like water quality, accessibility, affordability, and aesthetics which can help us accelerate progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 in Myanmar (clean water and sanitation). We dream about going beyond RefillMe project. Currently, we are working hard to launch two new projects in August.

    Thank you so much Aung, we’re looking forward to hear more from you and your team!

    STAY UP TO DATE ON REFILLME

    Want to know more about RefillMe? Follow RefillMe on facebook or leave your message below. And if you happen to visit Myanmar, bring your empty bottle and pay attention to the refill stations. Join the #refillution!

    All images in this blogs are provided by RefillMe.

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    15 CENT DEPOSIT ON SMALL PLASTIC DRINK BOTTLES

    In these strange weeks, we have been rather silent. Luckily we can share some positive local news with you. The Netherlands will introduce a 15 cent deposit system on all plastic bottles < 1 litre! This measure will come into effect in July 2021. We’re already looking forward to it.  

    WHY DO WE NEED 15 CENT DEPOSITS ON SMALL PLASTIC BOTTLES?

    You may consider the Netherlands clean and wonder whether small plastic bottles are a serious problem. Yes they are. According to Rijksoverheid, 100 million small bottles (out of the 900 million sold annually in the Netherlands) still end up being dumped. Take a close look and you see them scattered everywhere. While >1 L plastic bottles have had a 25 cent deposit for ages, small bottles had none. Some people need an incentive to get rid of their trash in a responsible way. 

    GREAT VICTORY FOR PLASTIC SOUP SURFER

    Countries like Denmark has shown bottles and cans rarely end up in landfills, thanks in large part to the pant deposit system. Previous efforts to reduce littering of small plastic bottles in the Netherlands have not been effective. Several stakeholders fought for years trying to convince our government to expand the current deposit system. Among them are Plastic Soup Foundation and Plastic Soup Surfer Marijn Tinga, who even dared to crossed the Channel on his DIY plastic-bottle surfboard to raise awareness. Many thanks for your persistence! 

    Plastic Soup Surfer Marijn Tinga – Image source: Plastic Soup Surfer

    WHERE CAN i RETURN MY EMPTY BOTTLES?

    Producers will be responsible for the new deposit system and bear the costs thereof. Around 12.000 sellers will collect the small bottles: in large supermarkets, caterers, at most train stations and at large petrol stations along the road. Hospitality and small businesses are yet excluded from the obligation to collect small bottles. Schools and sports associations can also voluntarily opt for a collection point. We hope many of them will join, to set the right example to our young generation. 

    WILL CANS BE NEXT?

    In case the number of cans dumped as litter is not reduced by between 70% and 90%, the Dutch government will also introduce a deposit on canned drinks in 2022. We will keep you up to date!

    WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE A DEPOSIT SYSTEM?

    We tried to look for a source that contains a complete overview of deposit schemes around the world, but we could not find it. Please leave your comment behind if you can help. If you want to read more about deposit systems, here are two suggestions: How have plastic deposit schemes worked around the world or Deposit return schemes solving plastic waste.

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    COFFEE TO GO? BRING YOUR OWN CUP!

    What a crazy time. A few weeks ago, we were working at the office, meeting our friends, going out and playing football. These days, most of us are (working) at home. Schools are closed. The streets are empty. Due to the coronavirus, all cafés, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands are closed, with the exception of take-away. And that’s what we want to talk about today: how to eliminate single-use plastics for take-away food and drinks. Coffee to go? Bring your own cup! Pita-falafel? Bring your beeswax wrap!

    cofee to go restaurant

    WHAT TO BRING?

    Reusable cup/bottle for your coffee to go

    The choice is endless! Personally, we’d like to keep a separate reusable bottle we call them your BBF) for water refills and a smaller reusable mug/cup for coffee to go. Not all cups/mugs/bottles are suitable for hot drinks, so check beforehand when buying one. Secondly, pay attention to the washing instructions, as some are not suitable for dishwashers. Last but not least, choose for something that lasts long and does not leak.

    Food storage containers

    Again, there are many good options here. Zero-waste sisters Jessie and Nicky always carry a mason jar with them. If you prefer something lightweight, you can choose for example recycled plastic (look for BPA-free). Steel is very long-lasting, but not suitable for microwaves. For sandwiches/pitas, you can bring reusable beeswax wraps. Eating in the park or on the train? Bring your own cutlery!

    HOW TO ESCAPE PLASTIC BOXES/PAPER CUPS?

    1. Be prepared: bring your reusable items when going out for the food hunt. You can always stack a foldable reusable bag under your bicycle seat or as a key hanger.
    2. Feel proud: never be embarrassed about you bringing your own packaging. Feel proud instead!
    3. Be quick: when ordering, immediately ask the staff to pack it in your containers. Make sure to show it to them (people tend to have a bad short-term memory when hearing things, but this improves when seeing things). When ordering a cold drink, say no to the straw.
    4. Pay the right price: use a waterproof marker to write the weight & volume on your containers. So in case you buy food per kg, they can easily deduct the container weight from the total. Furthermore, look out for discounts. Some places offer €0,25 discount when you bring your own cup for instance.

    DO YOU HAVE MORE TIPS?

    We would love to hear more stories how you can avoid single-use plastics. Please share your experience below. For the coming weeks: good luck, keep your distance and stay healthy! And a big applause to the medical staff worldwide.

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    WHY SIGN UP AS A REFILL STATION? AND HOW?

    Why would you sign up as a refill station? Because it really is an effective way to tackle plastic pollution at its source. But that’s not the only reason. Please read the story of eteaket, a beautiful Tea Room and Concept Store from Edinburgh, Scotland.

    etaeket Edinburgh

    REFILL STATION STORY: ETEAKET FROM EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

    1. BEING A REFILL STATION FITS THE ETHOS

    Did you ever think about the waste of all those tea bags we’re using worldwide? Numerous tea bags have been found to contain particles of plastic. A single plastic tea bag can shed billions of particles of microplastics. Luckily this is not the case at eteaket. The team is constantly looking for ways to minimize their environmental impact and to help their customers do the same. For example, the tea is packaged in biodegradable Nature Flex and their tea bags are made from soilon, a cornstarch-based material that is fully biodegradable. The outer packaging for their tea bags and looseleaf canisters is also completely recyclable. And they are members of the Ethical Tea Partnership. Signing up as a refill station fits perfectly with the “eteaket ethos”.

    1. SIGNING UP IS SUPER EASY

    Being located in the UK, the team decided to list their two venues on the Refill app. Registering on the Refill app was straightforward and simple. Christine (store manager):“it took less than three minutes (the time it takes to brew a perfect cup of tea!). The Refill app was recommended to us by one of our customers!” Their advice to other businesses would be to take some time out today to join a movement which is good for you, good for your customers and good for the planet.

    eteaket concept store

    The copper sink in the middle of the room is where free water refills are available.

    1. TAP WATER QUALITY IS AMAZING

    We cannot yet speak of a wide ‘refill movement’ in Scotland, but it would be the perfect setting for the #RefillRevolution. At eteaket, they realised Scottish Water is some of the best in the world. Why add more waste to the landfills when you can enjoy world-class water straight from the tap?

    1. BEING A REFILL STATION ENCOURAGES BIGGER STEPS

    Putting your tap on the map is super easy and it helps to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles (made from PET). It fits well within a bigger plan to reduce the impact of single-use packaging. eteaket encourages its customers to minimize plastic waste, by offer a 25p discount if people bring their own reusable cup. Yeah! They also sell a range of travel mugs in-store, including keep cups, bamboo flasks and Mei Li Tea Time travel flasks.

    eteaket bottle assortment

    The large assortment of reusable cups and travel mugs @eteaket

    Christine: “A loose-leaf takeaway tea for only £1.65 is simply an offer too good to refuse; delicious, ethical and the perfect antidote to the ever-changing Edinburgh weather! With over 35 teas to choose from, what are you waiting for? Call into our store on 111 Rose Street for a life-changing cuppa that’s good for the planet!”

    The weather in Amsterdam (HQ Refill Ambassadors) is pretty similar, so we know very well what tea can mean to you on a miserable grey rainy day!

    READY TO SIGN UP AS A REFILL STATION?

    We hope this story encourages other venues (bars, restaurants, shops, etc.) to list as a refill station too. It is fun! You can even economically benefit from it: new visitors enter your place for a free refill and might buy something else.

    1. All you need is a tap, tank or jug with clean water.
    2. Take a picture of your venue and list yourself to one or multiple refill apps.
    3. In addition, it really helps to put a window sticker or poster, so more people take notice.

    In countries where tap water is non-potable, you can still become a refill station. By using water filters or by serving water from large tanks (e.g. 20 or 50L, on deposit). In these countries it is more common to charge a small fee for the water refills. Please drop us a line if you have any questions how to do this or what to charge.

    In addition to Refill there are some other amazing refill apps with global coverage (like RefillMyBottle, Closca, mymizu). Ad there are some ‘local refill apps’. All of them are free to use and for signing up as refill station. If you doubt about which apps to sign up to, please contact us.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT ETEAKET

    eteaket tea assortment
    Picture Copyright Chris Watt

    eteaket was founded in 2008 by ex-lawyer Erica Moore. After a life’s too short moment, Erica travelled the world in search of quality loose leaf tea. Now 11 years later they have their Tea Room on Frederick Street in central Edinburgh, they export worldwide, wholesale across the UK and they have their Concept Store on Rose Street.

    Christine: “We saw younger tea drinkers wanting somewhere contemporary and inviting to visit and learn more about tea. When we designed the store we asked our customers what type of things they would like it in. As a result, you can smell every tea in store, sample our teas from our cold brew station, enjoy a hot brew from our tea siphon and find unique and quirky tea accessories.

     We have found it to be a great space for people who want to learn more about tea, it is fantastic for tea tastings (which we hold for free every Wednesday from 12-12.30), tea master classes and events based around wellness. We often have free Saturday morning Yoga or events with independent Scottish brands like Isle of Harris Gin (which is available to purchase via their click and collect service in store). If you find yourself in Edinburgh make sure to pop in and say hi. We would be delighted to take you on a journey into the world of quality loose leaf tea.”

    tea brewing
    Picture Copyright Chris Watt

    Note: other images provided by eteaket

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    NEW! REFILL ITALIA (REFILL ITALY)

    Italy is Europe’s 1st country when it comes to bottled water consumption per capita and the world’s 3rd country (after Mexico and Thailand). Therefore we are extremely pleased to inform you about Europe’s latest refill program: Refill Italia (Refill Italy)! Last year, they launched in close collaboration with Refill.org.uk. What are they up to? And how can you help? We spoke with Margeritha Cavalleri, co-founder of Refill Italia.

    INTERVIEW WITH MARGERITHA CAVALLERI (M)

    Why did you start this project?

    M: Enrica and I both felt this kind of project was lacking in Italy, and it was time to make a real difference. We know each other for over twenty years so it was really nice we could start this project together.

    Nice! Bottled water consumption in Italy is huge, so we’re glad you two initiated this refill project. Why did you decide to collaborate with Refill?

    M: We prefer to collaborate instead of reinventing the wheel. By working with Refill we can learn from their >3 years of experience in the field. The Refill app works well and it saves us a lot of time and money because we don’t need to build our own app.

    Italy is a large country, where do you start?

    M: We are going to focus in Lombardy first, using Milano, our city, as a pilot project. But we really hope Refill Italia will widespread fast, reaching all other regions.

    How do you finance this project?

    M: At the moment we do all the work voluntarily, next to our regular jobs. Of course it is quite a challenge and sometimes it is hard to find the time, but when you are driven by passion and enthusiasm…

    You must be very motivated! We face the same challenges at Refill Ambassadors, we do all the work for fun (free), and combine this with our own regular jobs. How many refill stations have you added so far?

    M: Around 600 in the first four months. In England more than 22.000 Refill Station have been registered in the App so far.

    That’s a very good start. We hope more Italians will add refill stations soon. What are your next steps?

    M: We have great ambitions! We want to reach public places with a huge number of people on the road and water bottles on the go, such as metro and train stations!

    Last question: how can people help you with Refill Italia?

    M: We are in constant need for volunteers who want to help, by spreading the voice and involving bars, restaurants and owners of public spaces. To have more information just contact us at info@refillitalia.org

    HELP REFILL ITALIA TO GROW

    Alright Italians and tourists, we got a mission: bring your reusable bottle and look out for refill stations. If you cannot find any in the Refill app (or another refill app you may be using), try to encourage bars, restaurants and shops to become a refill station. Ask if you may add them to the Refill app, so other people know the new refill place exist.

    Visit the Refill Italia website to learn more about the project. Use the hashtag: #REFILLit

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    THE REMARKABLE STORY OF MYMIZU: JAPAN’S 1ST FREE WATER REFILL APP AND GLOBAL REFILL MOVEMENT       

    Have you already heard of mymizu? If not, prepare yourself for a must-read. mymizu – Japan’s first free water refill app – was launched in September 2019. The app now displays almost 200.000 refill stations around the world, with new refill points being added every day. With around 20.000 app downloads. No kidding! And this is only the beginning. With the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games approaching, mymizu can lead to a global movement. Ready to get inspired? Read our interview with Robin Lewis, co-founder at mymizu.

    The mymizu co-founders: Mariko McTier (l) & Robin Lewis (r)

     INTERVIEW WITH MYMIZU CO-FOUNDER ROBIN LEWIS

     What is mymizu?

    mymizu (“mizu” means water in Japanese) is Japan’s first free water refill app. My team and I are working to expand the service across Japan and the world, especially as we approach the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    MYMIZU APP

    That makes sense. In six months, the Olympic and Paralympic Games will attract millions of visitors. Visitors that will be responsible for a huge consumption of single-use plastics, like water bottles. Here mymizu can play a positive role. Is this also the reason why you started mymizu?

    No. It all started with a trip to Okinawa, a beautiful cluster of islands in Japan that is known as a tropical paradise. My co-founder Mariko and I were blown away at how beautiful the beaches were, but as soon as we went off-the-beaten-track, we started finding more and more rubbish – especially plastic. I knew we were facing unprecedented levels of plastic waste in oceans globally, but seeing this hit home that it was also a major problem – even here, in Japan. It seemed totally crazy that we were paying so much money for something we didn’t really need (bottled water) and that this habit was having an enormous effect on our natural environment, and so we decided to try and stop the problem at the source.

    Good thinking, we at Refill Ambassadors also feel tackling the problem at the source is the most effective way. This can be accomplished with adequate government policies, with the help of individuals, numerous zero-waste organisations and through refill apps like mymizu. How did you progress afterwards?

    So, after several months of research, development and preparation, we launched the beta version of the mymizu app in September 2019. Within 4 months of launching, our app has been downloaded almost 20,000 times across 30 countries and have had over 1,500 refill points added by our users. We have also had hundreds of cafes, restaurants and hotels (including leading brands like Hilton Hotel and Patagonia) register on our platform as refill stations. We now display almost 200,000 refill points around the world, with new refill points being added every day – so you can you use the mymizu app anywhere in the world!

    Amazing! Some plans take years to happen, your project already exceeded all expectations within a few months. How do you add new refill stations to the app? Is it free of charge?

    Yes, it is free of charge! There is an “add refill spot” feature in the app, which allows users to add photos and other useful information about water stations. For refill partners (e.g. cafes, restaurants and hotels) – they just have to fill in a simple form on our website. We have new businesses registering every day, not just in Japan but even in Germany, Singapore and other countries too!

     Does mymizu earn any money? Do you sell anything or receive donations?

    We ran a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, and were blown away by the response. We hit our fundraising target within 48 hours and this helped to develop our app and educational programs. Since then, we have also received support from several foundations, corporations and governments to scale our service, but we are still looking for supporters to help us expand our mission in 2020. We also have had the honour of being awarded the iF World Design Award “Social Impact Prize 2019” which also was accompanied by some financial support.

    Congratulations. We hope you’ll manage to get the financial means necessary to create an even bigger impact. mymizu may be Japan’s 1st free refill app, worldwide there are some others like RefillMyBottle, Closca, Tap and Refill. Do you collaborate with other refill apps  / refill organisations in the world?

    We have had contact with several people working in the refill space, and are exploring collaboration opportunities as we speak! This is something we would love to do. We are also now collaborating with local governments, schools and universities to further this movement for sustainability.

    WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND MYMIZU?

    We would love to hear more about possible collaborations, so please keep us informed. On our blog, we are also write about the people behind refill organisations. Can you tell us something about the mymizu team?

    Our team is a very diverse group, in terms of nationality, background and interests! We have engineers, designers, environmentalists, as well as marketing professionals, copywriters and so on. We have people from Japan, UK, New Zealand, Australia and China, just to name a few nationalities! This diversity is critical for us, as we try and make an impact in Japan and around the world.

     The mymizu team

    Interesting. What about your own background? Who is Robin Lewis?

    Sure! I’m half Japanese and half British, and grew up mainly between the UK and Japan. In 2011, the big earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, leading to the Fukushima crisis, was a major turning point in my life. I spent several months in some of the worst affected areas (where my Japanese side of the family is originally from), and my time there made me question what is really important and fuelled my interest in sustainability, climate change and so on. I spent over half a decade working in humanitarian aid and international development after the earthquake, based in Japan but working in countries like Nepal, Haiti and Mozambique, mainly in post-disaster situations. I now work in the climate change space at an inter-governmental level, while also running mymizu, and an organisation called Social Innovation Japan.

    Thank you for sharing your personal story. It seems you have a very busy schedule. Quite impressive you’re able to combine these different activities.

    DREAMS AND NEXT STEPS @MYMIZU

    Last question: what do you at mymizu dream of?

    We dream about going beyond just water, and would love to extend the service to other products such as coffee and tea, for example! Our ultimate goal is to change consumer behaviour in Japan and more widely, and we see mymizu as just the first step in doing so.

    Furthermore, we consider mymizu to not just be an app – it’s a movement. Education and in-person engagement are critical components of what we are trying to accomplish. In just the past 4 months, we have done over 50 talks and workshops at schools, universities and companies on themes such as sustainability and plastic consumption, and are using social media and other creative means to raise awareness of the plastics crisis. This is something that we will scale up going forward. We’re also excited to have recently established a mymizu team in Singapore and hope to roll out more local chapters going forward!

    Thank you so much for sharing your personal story and plans with us. We are curious to find out where you and mymizu will be standing in one year from now. After the Olympic & Paralympic Games 2020. For now, we keep in touch so please keep us informed.

    READY TO JOIN THIS MOVEMENT?

    The mymizu app enables users to track their impact; specifically the CO2 emissions, bottles and money people save by refilling!  Mymizu’s first big target is to track the elimination of 1 MILLION bottles in 2020 (#1millionbottles challenge). They would love for you to track your impact and join them in this mission! So download the app (available on iOS and Android) and start refilling. The app is available in English and Japanese.

    Read more about mymizu via their website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

    Connect with Robin Lewis on LinkedIn

    Source images: mymizu.co

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    WATER REFILL APPS: AN INVESTIGATION

    Going on holiday? Or looking for refill stations in your neighbourhood? Bring your durable bottle and use a refill app to find the nearest refill station. We searched in the two main app stores and found >10 different water refill apps plus some online refill platforms. How do you know which refill app to use? Refill Ambassadors is here to help you!

    HOW DO WATER REFILL APPS WORK?

    The apps described in these blog are all free to download, in English, and they make use of your GPS to determine distances to the nearest refill station within their database. However, these apps greatly differ in scope and approach:

      • Global vs local: some apps show refill station across the globe, others only have refill stations in one specific city or region.
      • Public vs private: some apps only show refill points in public areas (drinking water fountains), others also in venues (e.g. restaurants, bars).
      • Free vs paid refill: some apps only show free refill points, whereas others (also) feature paid ones.
      • User input: some apps allow users to manually add or suggest new refill points.
      • Branded bottles: some apps are linked to the brand’s own durable bottles.
      • Extra features: counting the number of bottles saved, opening hours, earning points for discounts, etc.

    COMPARING REFILL APPS

    We tested all different apps and refill map websites. Some really amazed us, others did not function very well. Read our descriptions below.

    ‘GLOBAL’ REFILL APPS

    Refill includes >30.000 free refill points in public areas and local venues across the U.K., and elsewhere in the world. Users can easily add new refill points and track how many bottles they have saved. (HQ: U.K.)

    RefillMyBottle depicts refill stations around the world, mainly across South-East Asia (HQ: Indonesia). Interestingly, this app also displays paid refill points. Venues can sign up easily. RefillMyBottle collaborates with the project RefillNotLandfillAsia, which also have a map of refill points on their website.

    Closca has more than 200.000 refill stations across the world. Users can collect points to get discounts on products for each bottle refill. (HQ: Spain).

    mymizu logo

    mymizu displays almost 200.000 refill stations around the world, with new refill points being added every day. (HQ: Japan).

    Tap shows free refill points in local businesses across the globe, mostly in Canada and the U.S.A. We think it has a nice lay-out and some cool extra features, but adding a new refill station is rather time consuming. (HQ: U.S.A).

    refill app find water

    Find Water is based on the idea of mapping drinking water sources across the globe using Open Street Map. The app is still in its 1.0 version. (HQ: unknown).

    ‘LOCAL’ REFILL APPS

    Canadian based BlueW.org shows over 27.000 free refill stations on its website, mainly across Canada. Refill stations include public and private tap points. The map can be easily accessed through your mobile.

    Choose Tap features thounsands water refill venues in public areas and local businesses, mainly in Australia. You can help them grow by adding new refill points.

    Water for free promotes the refilling culture across Hongkong. It features free refill points in public areas and local venues. Users can add new refill points. Water for free also offers a ‘fountain rental service’.

    BluHop™ was initiated by a (at that time) 14th year old Indian boy. The app shows refill points in India (free and paid). These include water vending machines, drinking water fountains and our other refill partners.

    Zero Waste Sofia maps around 1.000 water fountains and some refill stations in venues across Bulgaria. The map is placed on the website (not as an app) and users can suggest new stations. The blog has amazing zero waste tips.

    RefillNZ has over 1.100 refill stations on the map in New Zealand. The app is for iOS only; Android users can use the map on the website.

    Give me tap! is a social enterprise that serves clean drinking water in Ghana for every bottle that is being sold. With a Give Me Tap bottle, you get free water refills in >800 stores in >150 cities, mainly in the U.K.

    Publiek Water has listed alomst 400 refill stations in venues (shops, bars, etc.) across the Netherlands

    Drinkwaterkaart shows over 1.500 public fountains in the Netherlands. The map is available online (not as an app). The websie also displays free toilets and free swimming areas.

    Find Drink Water shows free public fountains in some part of the Netherlands. The map is incomplete.

    Tap Water Ljubljana shows, as the name suggests, a handful of free public fountains in Ljubljana (Slovenia). We found a similar app, NS TAP WATER for the city of Novi Sad, Serbia.

    The concept behind Reefill is to offer refill subscriptions for $1.99 / month (chilled and filtered water). Target area: New York City. The app is currently undergoing improvements and does not display refill stations.

    WHY IS THERE NO REFILL AMBASSADORS APP?

    Refill Ambassadors wants you to find water refill points as easy as possible. Wherever you are. Without the need to download 10 different apps. We do not want to reinvent the wheel by building another app to locate your nearest refill point. Therefore we add new refill points to existing refill apps with a global coverage (Refill, Closca, RefillMyBottle and/or mymizu).

    We think it’s a good thing that multiple organisations stimulate the refill movement, yet it also complicates things. Are these apps competing with each other or can they collaborate? We believe in the latter. What if data from all these apps can be combined using API? For example, you just type “water” or “water refill” in Google Maps and it will show you all nearest locations. Similar when searching for an ATM or restaurant. We believe this will be the future step.

    DO YOU KNOW MORE WATER REFILL APPS?

    We did our best, but probably missed a refill app or two. Leave your comment behind, so we can update this blog.

    This blog is an updated version of our previous blog, published in July 2018. We added new refill apps and updated relevant data. 

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    RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL PERU: MORE THAN JUST A TOUR OPERATOR  

    Today we focus on RESPONSible Travel Peru, a community-based tour operator (HQ in Cusco). While tourism contributes 10% of global GDP and accounts for one in 10 jobs worldwide, the industry’s use of key resources is growing equitably. Think about its generation of solid waste, including marine plastic pollution, loss of biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. Tourists, tour operators, tourist accommodations and (local) governments are all responsible for this. And capable to change the industry.

    That’s exactly what RESPONSible Travel Peru has been doing. During the past months, they organised several sustainability workshops throughout Peru. Including tips about how to become a refill station. We got curious and asked Daniel Muñoz all about it.

    INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL MUÑOZ (D), EDITOR AT RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL PERU

    Single-use plastics are still widely used in Peru. What are the biggest challenges?

    D: There is a big culture around the use of disposable items. They are cheap, practical and available all over. Although the law against the use of plastic bags/cups, straws, styrofoam cups/boxes was approved last year, its enforcement is slow, and it is also being internalized in the minds of people at a very slow pace. There is still a hard-to-believe lack of consciousness among citizens and companies as well, but neither municipal government offices are doing their part (very few exceptions only). 

    That is a shame. Some habits are not easily changed. Governmental rules and bans are a great help but not sufficient. Luckily, tourists and tourism facilities can make a change too. For the latter you organised several workshops. How did that go?

    D: The workshops were held in various cities: Cusco, Urubamba, Puno city, Arequipa Coporaque, Nasca, Paracas, Lima, Huaraz and Chiclayo. We started months ago preparing ourselves via our own internal workshop (2 weeks) where, as a team, prepared the sustainability criteria and useful information to share with providers (transportation companies and drivers; agencies and guides; hotels and homestays; and communities that provide Community Based Tourism (CBT)). We contacted all the participants one by one, and asked them for collaboration in terms of conference rooms, snacks and lodging. 

    So you managed to reach quite a lot of people. What kind of information did you share? How did your audience respond to the workshops?

    D: The public was very participative. Also because we promoted participation within special segments of the workshop where we asked to mention problems faced in the area, as well as possible solutions. 

    We started with an overview of global problems faced by the planet (global warming, SDGs, etc.). This was followed by a local overview and sustainable tourism approach. We explained who we are and our way to do stuff. Furthermore we looked at sustainability and tourism certifications (mostly Travelife). We gave a resume of sustainability criteria by sectors (as named above), and sustainability strategies. And then in detail about becoming refill stations.

    CREATING NEW REFILL STATIONS IN PERU

    That’s very good. In Peru refill stations are hard to find (and this increased our motivation to start Refill Ambassadors). For example in Cusco, there are so many hotels, bars, shops, restaurants and museums. The potential for new refill stations is huge! Let’s talk a bit more about your effort to create new water refill stations, since that is our main focus too. What worked well and what did not? Did you just ask your partners to become a refill station?

    D: Yes, we started encouraging partners to implement refill stations at their businesses, first by means of the word through our workshops. That didn’t work out that well, only a couple did it right away, others only because we provided the water filters. But 25 other participants of the workshops filled out forms where they were requesting more information on how to become a refill station. So that was our next step.

    First poster used through social networks (immediately leading to one new water refill station) (l)

    We can imagine the concept of ‘becoming a refill station’ needs some more explanation before facilities actually join. Can you tell us in depth about this ‘next step’, how did you follow-up?

    D: We implemented our own sustainability team, and already sent-out our first three newsletters sharing tips and relevant information, and a special one (with all the information related to refill stations) was launched as well. You can check this last one here (in Spanish). So far, about 30 new refill stations are on the way to be established.  

    Tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. That means refill stations have to be equiped with some kind of water filter. Or they can be a large water tank (e.g. 20 L with deposit). Could you tell a bit more about the water filters you provided for some homestays? What type of filter is used?

    This is the HUATTA family at their homestay in Taquile island, Titicaca lake (Nazava brand). A similar filter was provided to another homestay (coffee farmers) in Cusco, along our Coffee Route to Machu Picchu; and a third to a local restaurant in Cusco city with which we collaborate largely (they provide cooking lessons as part of our Meet-the-local activities).

    It’s really great that you organised these workshops. And to see the effort is paying off. You at RESPONSible Travel Peru have become true experts while still continuously looking for improvements. Can you share some other sustainable travel tips?

    Sure! Here are some tips we promote among our customers (we also posted about being environmentally responsible during a trip):

    • Travel light (and to use that space to bring donations).
    • Embrace the slow-travel philosophy. Really get to know the destination and meet the locals
    • Use ground transportation as much as possible (and to fly the least);
    • Bring reusable bottles and zero-waste kits
    • Eat local and slow food.

    Daniel, thank you so much for your time and keep up the good work.

    LEARN MORE

    RESPONSible Travel Peru is a community based tour operator since 2009. Its founders wanted to tackle ‘the problem of welfare projects and defined periods specific to non-profit organizations, which seek to train small entrepreneurs and rural communities, but that at the end of the management fail to achieve self-sufficiency’ (read more). Over the years, RESPONSible Travel Peru has become much more than a just a tour operator: they are a great source of inspiration for travellers, tourist facilities and other tour operators in the world.

    All images provided by RESPONSible Travel Peru

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    REFILL AMBASSADORS: 2020 AMBITIONS

    On behalf of the Refill Ambassadors team: happy new year! I hope you started the new decade with a bright mood and lots of water refills. In this blog I’d like to briefly reflect on the past year and share our plans for 2020 with you. But above all: thank you for your interest in our project. I’m glad you found us on the web, since we do not use any advertising. When I founded Refill Ambassadors two years ago, I did not expect to make so many ‘refill friends’ in a short time. Together we can create a #refillution!

    ACOMPLISHMENTS REFILL AMBASSADORS IN 2019

    • We gave personal advise – through mail, phone and face to face – to people from all over the world (from U.K., to Ghana, Peru and all the way to Myanmar). Individuals and small organisations willing to make a change, as well as restaurant/shop owners, and bottle brands. For example ‘how do I start a refill station?’ ‘how can I create a refill movement in my city’ or ‘which refill app should I use’?
    • We conducted an elaborate research on the worldwide ‘refill app market’ and consumer attitudes towards refilling, for which we received the Designscapes 1st open call (€5.000,- grant). This money is used to cover our basic expenses.
    • Our website got updated with >10 new refill projects, which are added to our refill initiatives overview.
    • We started the Open Tap Challenge, a campaign to create more refill stations in bars, restaurants and shops within Amsterdam. In addition we added around 350 public fountains to the Refill app.
    • We joined the World CleanUp Day on September 21st, together with thousands of volunteers.
    • We tested out two different water filters (TAPP 2 and SteriPEN)
    • I welcomed three new team members: Félice, Roos and Madelief

    OUR AMBITIONS FOR 2020

    • We want to continue the #refillution, by convincing 1.000 new venues to start a refill station, and to raise awareness on refilling among consumers. Hereby we want to collaborate with several tourism industry associations. We signed the Tourism Plastic Pledge and we are looking forward to learn and inspire others.
    • We want to add ‘how to guides’ to our website, thereby helping more people to start a refill station, become an ambassador or how to use refill apps. Note: we’ll investigate what’s already out there before reinventing the wheel. Tips are more than welcome.
    • We really need to improve our website, e.g. making it mobile proof. If you want to help us and can do this (almost) free of charge, please let us know!
    • Who are the people behind new and established refill initiatives? We will write more ‘behind the scenes’ stories.
    • Our Ambassador Madelief will be on the hunt for refill stations in South East Asia during her travels.

    WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2020?

    We are curious to hear what you are up to this year, with your organisation or as an individual. Please leave your comments behind. Do you want to collaborate with us in 2020, or would you like to have your organisation interviewed for our blog? Please send us a message.

    Looking forward to hear from you,

    Hella

    Hella Hekkelman, founder Refill Ambassadors

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    AMSTERDAM OPEN TAP CHALLENGE

    On a beautiful sunny autumn day, refill ambassadors Hella and Félice went for an “open tap challenge” In the city center of Amsterdam: would venues open their tap for people, passengers of all kinds, just to have their water bottles filled? And so we approached cafe, boutique shop and supermarket staff. 

        

    Besides improving ourselves each time at enthusing merchants of their potential in reducing single use plastics, we got to know this lovely quarter better. What a high density of coffee shops!

    Many people we spoke with supported Refill Ambassadors’ ideas, but they  would need to check with their bosses if we could paste a “Refill” window sticker, or add their site to the “Refill” app to chart free water points. Some merchants did not hesitate to join the refillution – no big deal; tap water is for everyone!

    We could say our challenge was a success by adding 5 new refill stations – free water points for everyone. People who cross a doorstep for a refill may just as well become customers!

    WELCOME, NEW REFILL STATIONS:

    1. Café Gollem
    2. Urban Cacao
    3. Rapha
    4. kopjethee.NL
    5. Dimply Delights

    WHO’S NEXT?

    Thank you for spreading our tasty water to the people. Do you own a bar, café, restaurant or shop and do you want to open your tap to the public? Become a refill station! Please contact us, so we can help you.

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    TAPP: IN LOVE WITH TAP WATER

    What if tap water is potable, but not very tasty? Use a water filter! It’s almost one year ago since we tested the TAPP 2, a simple and affordable biodegradable water filter. Since then, TAPP Water has been working on the development of new products and their website. Time for a close look at this innovative company. Oh and we have a nice present for you at the end of this blog!

    BECOMING TRUE WATER GEEKS

    The TAPP team is growing fast. And so does their knowledge. They consider themselves to be ‘water geeks’. We like the fact they share valuable info on their website, e.g. about different filter mechanisms and tap water quality around the world. For example Can I drink tap water in Ibiza? Or in Hong Kong? The website also has a ‘3-minute water filter type test’ ☺.

    Information on water filtering @ tappwater.co

    The TAPP team (image: TAPP)

    MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT TAP WATER

    The 25 team members gained lots of insights regarding misconceptions about tap water. Silvia Gennaro (PR, Affiliation & Partnerships Manager) shared a few stories with us. For example many universities are engaging with their students giving them reusable bottles to refill and avoiding single-use plastics. However in countries where these universities are, many still refil the reusable bottle with water that comer from plastic bottles. (e.g. using 1,5 L single-use plastic bottles from the supermarkets).

    Silvia: “Italy has extremely pure water sources. It’s even famous for exporting bottled spring water, like San Pellegrino. However, Italy is the world’s 3rd country when it comes to bottled water consumption per capita (after Mexico and Thailand), the first one in Europe. Tap water tests in Milan and Rome show the water is very clear and safe, yet people buy bottled water because they have false beliefs.”  

    Furthermore Silvia told us some people believe they get kidney stones from drinking tap water, even though many studies show it is not true. Overall, tap water provides a perfect mixture of sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium. Even more strange: healthy humans buying low mineralisation bottled water and mineral supplements! Strange!

    TESTING FILTERED TAP WATER

    Last month, TAPP demonstrated their water filters on a local food and artisan market in Barcelona, their hometown. During the event, they conducted blind-tests with filtered and non-filtered tap water. Visitors were amazed by the difference in taste. “Amazing!” “It tastes really good, I’m going to buy it”. Something we also concluded with our own user test (50 participants).

    GET YOUR OWN WATER FILTER – SPECIAL OFFER

    All in all, we feel TAPP is a cool company striving for big changes. They really want to re-educate people in the way we consume and drink water. Most importantly, they offer sustainable, affordable water filters. The TAPP 2 is a biodegradable water filter (Activated Carbon Block, 1-2 microns) that you connect directly to the faucet. It strongly reduces bad taste, chlorine, lead, microplastics and a wide range of other contaminants.

    Do you want to get your own filter? With the coupon code refillambassadors you get €5,- discount on any order at TAPP (apply this code in the first step of the check-out). In addition, our project receives a very small percentage when you use this TAPP discount code. We’ll use this money to cover our operational costs.  Happy refilling!

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    BEST PRACTICES: ZERO WASTE SOFIA

    Restoring the public fountains in Bulgaria. That’s one of the main goals of Zero Waste Sofia. Their founder, corporate communications professional Simona Stiliyanova wants to create a movement and help everyone in Bulgaria to reduce their waste, from packaging to wardrobe. And she pays special attention to public fountains. We were really curious about this initiative, so we picked up the phone. 

    INTERVIEW WITH SIMONA STILIYANOVA (S)

    Why did you start Zero Waste Sofia?

    S: Adopting a ‘zero waste lifestyle’ is something many of us dream about, but struggle to actually do it. Where do you even start? I managed to reduce my waste by about 60% and I wanted to document my successful and unsuccessful attempts to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, and that’s how Zero Waste Sofia was born. I want to show that living a little more “green” does not necessarily mean mixing up recipes with 400 exotic ingredients all day long. On the contrary – by implementing various small changes you can simplify your life and even save money and earn more time for yourself and your loved ones.

    Can you tell us more about the specific ‘fountain project’?

    S: Fountains of Bulgaria enables active people to stop using disposable plastic bottles and save money by giving them a map of all sources of free tap water near them. I am working to embed information about its quality, feedback for broken fountains and other initiatives too.

    CAN YOU DRINK TAP WATER IN BULGARIA?

    So we assume, tap water in Bulgaria is potable?

    S: Yes, we are fortunate to live close to thousands of free sources of high quality drinking water. In Bulgaria, there is an old tradition for people to build drinking fountains. As a result of it, there are nearly 7,000 of them all over the country. However, nowadays our modern society is rapidly adopting the “throwaway” culture, putting the tradition on the shelf and sending nearly 5 million disposable plastic bottles to the landfill every day.

     I conducted a national research among 600 respondents, and found out why people use or do not use public fountains. The 3 main reasons for not using them were:

    • 89,4% of all interviewees consider that they do not have enough information about the quality of water
    • 64% do not use public fountains, because they are broken or dirty.
    • 54% do not know where to find them

    That’s why I decided to go further in addition to the mapping. I partner with local civic organizations, contact municipalities to report broken fountains and encourage my readers to do so. And together with some other volunteers, we started to clean the fountains ourselves.

    Oh yes, we read about that on Zero Waste Sofia. On September 14th, you joined with the “Let’s clean Bulgaria together” event. Can you tell us more about this?

    S: I am really happy that even it started small, it grew so quickly and was supported by many volunteers from all over the country, even two whole municipalities and bTV national television. For the clean-up we used only natural products as vinegar and baking soda. 

    You already have 960 refill stations on your map. How do you add new fountains? Can bars and restaurants also sign up as a refill station?

    S: I started to add fountains to the map myself. Nowadays hundreds of volunteers are helping me out by adding new fountains through the website form. Venues that provide tap/filtered water and welcome people to fill their water bottle for free can also join. You can already find some restaurants on the map.

    FUNDING & SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT

    Do you get any financial support to do all this work?

    S: No. Currently the project is ran without funding by volunteering efforts in our spare time. The project is working without a budget as a Google map since 2018 and it has already gained ambassadors, volunteers and public support, including national TV and other media features. To achieve higher impact and scale our solution we need to invest in a fully functional digital platform, water sampling and analysis and a strong awareness campaign. This year “Fountains of Bulgaria” even was ranked among 30 semi-finalists from over 500 projects across Europe challenging plastic waste in the European social innovation competition. As a part of it we visited a Social Innovation Academy in Turin where I attended many really useful workshops and met amazing people from all over Europe. Integral part of the team were my partner, who is also supporting me a lot with the project and my (then 2 months old) baby, who travels everywhere with me. :)) Thanks to the competition we also met our amazing coach, who is still supporting me with the project.

    Last question: what is your ultimate goal? 

    S: I want to start a national movement of tap water users and ambassadors – bringing tap water its credibility and public fountains back to life. A change in consumers’ mindsets and behaviour towards purchasing bottled water (in regions where water is drinkable). Hopefully we will achieve a system change – municipalities investing in the development of a strong public fountains infrastructure, instead of encouraging the usage of more single-use plastic bottles and looking for ways to recycle them. And of course the ultimate – legislation change – plastic bottles bans at key public places. 

    READ MORE

    The website Zero Waste Sofia is in Bulgarian (yes with a Cyrillic alphabet!), but that doesn’t stop us from being big fans (thank you Google Translate!). In our opinion, Simona is a true hero, and a talented photographer too. Check out the Zero Waste Sofia Instagram, and get inspired!

    Do you have tips for Simona how she can grow the refill network in Bulgaria? Or do you want to become a volunteer or project partner? Please contact Simona at Simona@zerowastesofia.com.

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