April 6, 2020
Plastic pollution is everywhere, and it’s not just the plastic water bottle floating in the stream. The environmental impact of plastic extends not only to plastic in the water, but also the water it takes to produce the plastic. The water footprint of plastic comes to about 28 gallons of water per pound of plastic, […]
March 27, 2020
Clean water and good hygiene are an essential pair to fight back against the coronavirus pandemic, yet water shutoffs in low-income homes are happening in all 50 states, according to Food & Water Action’s Public Water for All Campaign. Efforts to suspend tap water shutoffs during the economic turmoil were foiled when the $1.5 billion […]
March 18, 2020
Tap water in the United States is safe to drink in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to an advisory by the EPA. It’s understandable that people might be concerned about how the novel coronavirus might affect drinking water and wastewater utilities, and the EPA provides some answers. From the EPA advisory Coronavirus and […]
March 10, 2020
There are many definitions of “sustainable” when it comes to beauty products, with a whopping 66 eco-labels around the world relevant to cosmetics and personal care. One label that piques the interest of those of us at Water Footprint Calculator is the “waterless beauty” label. This South Korean term generally refers to products containing no water. […]
March 2, 2020
While livestock and poultry production in the United States has risen substantially since 1960, the amount of water used has dropped, according to research from University of Nebraska’s Water for Food Global Institute. A few factors have contributed to this drop in water use, such as selective breeding, genetic engineering and the larger sizes of […]
February 27, 2020
Wildfires that wracked southeastern Australia for months laid waste to millions of acres of land, and as a terrible consequence, is causing widespread water pollution. As rain washes over the charred land, literally tons of ash, debris and chemicals are carried into streams, rivers and other waterways, which has created huge fishkills and contaminated water […]
February 19, 2020
If you travel a lot, you know it can take a toll on the health of the planet. The World Economic Forum put together a list of methods you can use to reduce your impact on water and carbon emissions when you travel. The list includes everything from traveling light to avoiding air travel to […]
February 14, 2020
A 2018 study by researchers at the University of Oxford looked at the global impact of food production and found that producing a glass of dairy milk results in almost three times more greenhouse gas emissions and consumes nine times more land than any plant-based milk. The Guardian wondered what the best milk alternative would be so they […]
February 13, 2020
Move over Oscar, the BAFTA’s are leading the way on sustainability. In an effort to promote sustainability this awards season, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts sent out a guide created by the London College of Fashion that encourages attendees of the February awards ceremony to either rewear or rent an outfit for […]