Is water in a can better than plastic?
Canned water is a great sustainable option when your reusable bottle is out of reach or you don't have a safe refill option. Just remember, canned water can curb our plastic bottle problem. There are a few canned water brands out there, but Open Water is the only one that's entirely Climate Neutral too.
Recycling of bottled beverage materials incl glass, plastic
If aluminium cans are made of 100% recycled material the carbon footprint will be 96% less and thus similar to refilled glass bottles or carton. However, as only 45% of cans are recovered (in the US) the real carbon footprint is much higher.
Recycling plastic is more complex, leads to degradation and has lower reuse rates than aluminum - so the metal has been heralded as a greener alternative. Cans have on average 68% recycled content compared to just 3% for plastic in the United States, Environmental Protection Agency data shows.
Aluminum is much better than plastic in so many ways, starting with its recyclability. And, it just keeps getting better. Aluminum is a recycling hero–easy to recycle and infinitely recyclable. In fact, nearly 75 percent of all the aluminum ever produced is still in use today.
The Environmental Protection Agency says aluminum cans have about 68 percent recycled content compared to just 3 percent for plastic bottles in the United States. As a result, aluminum is widely seen as the better choice for the environment.
Yes. Without debate, yes canned water is a safe, clean sustainable alternative to plastic bottled water. Canned water is sweeping the nation, and we should all be grateful.
Cans are far more portable than bottles and weigh two pounds less per six-pack. Cans are also easier to pack in a cooler, cool faster, stay cooler longer and are the preferred containers of concert venues and sports stadiums because they're safe.
The compound is still found in the epoxy lining of some aluminum cans, though, and a 2014 study showed that BPA leaching from cans can increase blood pressure, raising the risk of heart disease.
Aluminium cans are the most recycled item. They are easy to recycle, and are more recycled than glass bottles. The energy required to recycle a can is less than the energy to recycle a glass bottle.
When comparing plastic bottles with boxed water, the study finds that boxed water has a 36% lower carbon footprint, uses 43% less fossil fuel, and has a 95% lower impact on the ozone. Keep in mind that not all cartons are created equal.
Is it safe to drink water from aluminum cans?
It's safe and poses no health threat. This applies to aluminum water bottles, too. The CDC states that aluminum is not harmful, making it a good alternative to even BPA-free plastic water bottles, and especially so against plastic water bottles that have BPA.
Although water doesn't expire, water stored in aluminum cans has a shelf life of 50 years. The higher the quality of the bottle for your water, the longer it lasts.

Compared to aluminum (which is mined from Bauxite), Boxed Water is 50% lower impact on ozone depletion and smog emissions from smelting, and 33% lower impact on acidification due to deforestation.