Plastic is a problem! On average, a single person in the UK uses 3 plastic water bottles a week – that’s more than 7.7 billion plastic water bottles in the UK per year. Once a convenient and cheap solution, single-use plastic bottles end their short lives in landfill, oceans and rivers, causing significant worldwide pollution. In the UK, the problem of single-use plastic has, mostly, been addressed. Thanks to high-profile awareness campaigns, in 2023, the UK government banned single-use items i.e. those that are not designed or intended for reuse, and consumer habits are definitely changing for the better. Recycling, the obvious alternative solution is steadily increasing with almost two thirds¹ of packaging waste in the UK now being recycled. But is it really the ideal solution?
According to the City to Sea website², only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, and the UK’s current plastic recycling rate stands at 45%. So, in real terms, this means that only a fraction of recyclable plastic water bottles ends up being recycled. And, when we take into account the fact that manufacturing plastic consumes significant amounts of energy and raw materials, the only real sustainable solution is re-use.
Refill campaign, changing habits
In 2015, only 20% of people in the UK used refillable water bottles, but, thanks to the Refill campaign from City to Sea, by 2023 this reached 60% of the population.
“If just 1 in 10 Brits Refilled just once a week, we’d save around 340 million plastic bottles a year.” ³
Launched in 2015, Refill is a campaign helping people find places to eat, drink and shop with less plastic. A free app identifies locations such as cafes, restaurants, museums and shops throughout the UK that provide free tap water to refill water bottles. The Refill campaign is making significant advances in encouraging consumers to adapt their behaviour. And where better to raise awareness and change behaviour than schools where young people can adopt good habits that they will carry through to later life?
As a rule of thumb, young people aged between 9 and 13 should drink between 1.3 – 1.7 litres of water per day, according to the European Food Safety Authority. Even mild dehydration can lead to a lack of concentration, fatigue, headaches and tiredness, all of which have a significant impact on performance. Providing ready access to refill stations in schools and education facilities will have a positive impact on young people’s health and will also contribute to reducing our reliance on plastic.
Sustainable, durable, hygienic
Refill stations in schools do, however, need to be robust. They are subject to intensive use, and will need to withstand voluntary and involuntary vandalism from heavy-handed users. DELABIE offers a wide range of drinking fountains designed specifically for high-footfall environments. Made from 304 stainless steel, a recyclable material that contributes to sustainable development, they are designed to withstand impacts and abrasion. The surface has no additional treatments, and will not rust even if scratched. The valve mechanism is made from solid brass which has been tested and proven to be reliable for over 500,000 operations. Product reliability is reinforced by a 30-year warranty and DELABIE guarantee that replacement spare parts will be available for up to 50 years.
Well-established in professional kitchens and healthcare settings, stainless steel also has hygienic benefits, thanks to its bacteriostatic nature. DELABIE’s drinking fountains have a polished satin finish, which provides a uniform, non-porous surface with minimal seams to avoid dirt deposits and niches where bacteria can develop. The smooth surfaces and rounded edges of these water fountains mean there are fewer niches where bacteria can develop, making them easier to clean. The bowls feature a perforated flat-grid waste with no screws which also improves cleaning as well as reducing vandalism. To avoid unnecessary water wastage, the tap mechanism shuts off instantly when the push-button is released and the flow rate can be adjusted on installation to adapt to the system pressure and reduce splashing.
Stainless steel water fountains are the perfect, sustainable solution for public spaces. Specifically designed for high footfall buildings, they will withstand the daily wear and tear experienced in school environments. As we reduce our reliance on plastic, changing young people’s habits by encouraging refill and re-use will benefit their well-being as well reducing their environmental impact.