At Eldorado, our offering combines the gifts from an ancient spring with the latest advancements in bottling and packaging technology. Not only do we regularly test the quality of our water, we also are continually reviewing research on the best ways to deliver our product to you.
In recent years, there has been growing awareness of a chemical in plastic packaging called Bisphenol A (BPA). While it has been used to harden plastics since the 1960s and can be found in everything from water bottles to canned foods to dental sealants, studies in the last decade have shown that BPA is ingested in small quantities from foods and beverages that come in plastic packaging.
People also ingest BPA through air, dust, and other sources. In fact, it’s estimated that 90% of us have BPA in our bodies. Organizations including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have conducted extensive research into BPA and its effects. While their studies to this point have been fairly inconclusive, they have determined that BPA at low levels does not pose a risk to human health.
We closely follow the work of the FDA, WHO, and other trusted researchers, and our packaging reflects their findings. However, we are also attentive to the interests and concerns of our customers. That’s why we offer four bottle packaging options for our natural spring water:
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). PET is BPA free, lightweight, durable, and doesn’t pose the shatter risk of glass. Its disadvantages are that it can be prone to leaking and is not as aesthetically pleasing as some other forms of packaging. Currently, our water is available in PET containers of five sizes: 5 gallons, 1.5 liters, 1.0 liters, 24 ounces, and 0.5 liters. The 1.0-liter, 24-ounce, and 0.5-liter containers are all made from environmentally friendly 100% post-consumer recycled PET (rPET). If you prefer a BPA-free bottle, please be sure to let your customer account representative know.
Polycarbonate (PC). PC provides excellent durability and clarity, and will not shatter like glass. PC is more expensive to manufacture than PET and it does contain BPA. However, if you prefer BPA-free bottles, we can definitely accommodate that request as the majority of our bottles are now BPA-free.
High-density Polyethylene (HDPE). Most plastics made with HDPE are BPA free. It is the most cost-effective plastic to use in water bottles, and it has the highest recycle rates, so it is very environmentally friendly. The downside of HDPE is that it can impart taste and odor to the water it contains if stored in a warm place. It is also an opaque material, making it less visually appealing. We currently offer HDPE packaging for our 1-gallon jugs.
When it comes to delivering water in its most pristine condition, glass is ideal. In addition, it does not contain BPA. However, as glass production in the U.S. has declined, the cost of glass has greatly increased, making glass containers very expensive. Glass can be imported, but the quality varies. We source our glass in Italy, where we pay more but receive a higher quality product. Another challenge with glass is that it poses a shatter risk. We currently offer glass packaging for our 3-gallon size.
Throughout our 30-year history, we’ve never stopped looking for safer, more cost-effective ways to provide our customers with the best natural spring water on the market. We’re proud to say that the amount of resources we commit to product packaging research and quality control is unrivaled in our industry. Our company is built on the trust of our customers, and we continue to do all we can to earn that trust every day.
What are some ways to drink more?
*Content sourced from The Mayo Clinic
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