Phox Vs Brita filters
As sustainability is a core component to Phox Water's brand identity, we wanted to test our products footprint, so we could report back to you. We wanted to be able to share our "why us" in a way that is straight to the point. But, a 75% carbon footprint decrease, when you choose us over a standard water filter, such as Brita...that's a big difference.
Context
A rough estimate is that around 70% of our numbers were users who had moved from a disposable cartridge filter. Of course, there will be tap water users, who are not drastically thinking about changes of CO2 output from their daily water intake, as it is not fluctuating per product. Our studies look purely at Phox versus a standard water filter.
CO2
Carbon emissions don't start in a factory or a warehouse somewhere. An accurate carbon footprint looks at lifestyle, supply as well as demand. Our studies found that one customer of a standard water filter can emit well over 950g of CO2, between the manufacture of their first, to the 36 required in as many months.
Phox filters- if you weren't aware by now- are refillable. The cartridge comes to you, and stays with you. The 27.2g of CO2 emitted in making our cartridges is the only effect to your carbon footprint. No extra virgin plastic, it's a huge part of why so many are making the switch.
Delivery
Even without all the other factors and considerations, how frustrating in general is a missed delivery? A quick trip to the post office, maybe the sheepish knock on your neighbour's door, or scanning the communal area of your building for any sign of your order. We're not fans of it either...
Especially when we considered that each delivery emits around 181g of CO2. Over that 36 month period, your standard water disposable cartridges would come to 36 deliveries, 6516g of CO2 into the atmosphere. Make that 1954.8g if a delivery is missed and the order needs sending again, which 30% of orders do. It's a slippery slope, where your carbon footprint can rise quite considerably in a relatively short space of time, without even needing to leave the house.
The refillable cartridge means one delivery of this. The refill sachets are letterbox-friendly, so a second attempt is never needed. In that 36 month period, the maximum number of deliveries needed is 12 (if you had a 3 month recurring order), but we also sell 12 month packs. One trip from the postman, see you next year!
Shelf Life
The life span of our filter is on average 17 days longer than a Brita filter. In short, they're built to last. A study found glass was ranked as the best material for water bottles and containers, compared with plastic, aluminium or HDPE. The scorecard considers climate impact, water usage, sourcing of raw materials, life span and the potential for (harmful) chemical output. So when we designed our jug, recyclability was at the front of our mind.
Back to the mission: Stopping cartridges going to landfill
If you've read anything about us, you'll know reducing landfill waste is a huge part of the Phox mission. We saved 250,000 single-use cartridges going to landfill last year. This year we want to stop a million.
So when we worked out in our study of 41036 users, 36 months of disposable cartridges could emit as much as 271 tonnes of CO2, we wanted to get the message out loud and clear: We are the sustainable water filtration option. Compare that to Phox' 63.2 tonnes Or another way of phrasing it, a saving of 208.3, which is over 75%.
Disposable is out, refillable is in. The carbon footprint of being a Phox customer is 75% lower than that of someone who buys a standard water filter and this was something we are so keen to stress when the question comes up: "Why should we switch to Phox"?
