Water filters - good for the environment?
More and more people are turning to water filters to improve their Tapwater . But in addition to the health benefits, the question arises: are water filters also environmentally friendly? Here you can find out why water filters can be an environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water and how Alb Filter contributes to sustainability in water treatment.
Water filters are good for the environment for several reasons:
1. reduction of plastic waste
Using a water filter eliminates the need to buy disposable plastic bottles. This not only reduces the consumption of plastic, but also the pollution caused by the production, transportation and disposal of bottled water. Less plastic waste means less microplastics in nature and waterways.
2. less CO₂ emissions
The production, transportation and cooling of bottled water cause high CO₂ emissions. With a water filter, you can use Tapwater directly, which significantly reduces the overall CO₂ footprint.
3. conservation of resources
The production of plastic bottles consumes valuable resources such as crude oil and water. A water filter enables more sustainable use of existing water sources, without additional packaging or long transportation routes.
4. protection of water bodies
Many pollutants such as drug residues, pesticides and heavy metals are released into the environment via wastewater. High-quality water filters can remove these substances from Tapwater before they return to the water cycle.
5. longer service life of household appliances
Water filters reduce limescale deposits and pollutants in the water, which means that appliances such as coffee machines, kettles and washing machines last longer. This not only saves money, but also avoids unnecessary electronic waste.
Overall, water filters help to use water more sustainably and reduce the environmental impact of plastic, emissions and pollutants.
Sustainable water filters from Germany
With the aim of guaranteeing high, consistent quality and keeping delivery routes as short as possible, we rely on experienced partners from the region for development and production. We manufacture our Alb Filter products in the Swabian Jura for Germany and the whole world, working hand in hand with CNC lathes, metal finishing manufacturers, laser engravers and plastics technicians. Using an Alb filter reduces the carbon footprint and conserves important energy resources.
A housing for eternity
Our robust and durable stainless steel housings are pollutant-free, corrosion-resistant, easy to clean, germ-resistant and odorless and tasteless. Unlike many plastic water filters, our housings are built to last. Only the filter cartridge used needs to be replaced.
Sustainable water filters thanks to bioplastics?
Bioplastics are often advertised as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics. They promise a reduction in CO₂ emissions, the elimination of fossil raw materials and better biodegradability. At first glance, this appears to be a promising solution to the global plastic problem. However, a closer look reveals considerable weaknesses: Many bioplastics are only biodegradable under special conditions, recycling is difficult and the cultivation of the required raw materials can cause ecological and social problems.
Bioplastics can be problematic for the following reasons:
- Toxicity and harmful substances
Several independent studies show that over 80 % of bioplastics contain cell-toxic or otherwise harmful minerals. This means that they are often not as harmless as they first appear. - Recycling problems
Even if the housing of a filter cartridge were biodegradable, every activated carbon cartridge (i.e. the filter medium inside) contains polyethylene (GUR) as a binding agent. The entire structure is virtually impossible to recycle and is usually incinerated, which significantly worsens the actual environmental balance. - Poor CO₂ balance
The cultivation of renewable raw materials for bioplastics often means monocultures with high water consumption, pesticide use and fertilizer requirements. If the agricultural land were cultivated in other ways, this could achieve a better carbon footprint in many cases. - Deceptive promises of sustainability
In practice, many bioplastics are not fully biodegradable or require special industrial composting facilities, but are usually only incinerated. They often remain in nature for just as long as conventional plastics.
For disposable packaging or short-lived products, bioplastics can be useful under certain circumstances if disposal is clearly regulated. For products with high demands on durability, water resistance and food safety, bioplastics are only suitable to a limited extent.
Based on these findings, we at Alb Filter have decided not to use bioplastics and instead rely on certified plastics that are suitable for drinking water, do not release any harmful substances into the water and guarantee a high level of safety for users - without any questionable greenwashing promises.
