Mains-Fed Vs Bottled Water Coolers: A Sustainability Comparison

When you need to make a decision and choose a water cooler for your office, workplace, or commercial space, sustainability is becoming a deciding factor for more and more businesses of all sizes. With two main water dispenser options to choose from – mains-fed and bottled water coolers – both give you a convenient source of great-tasting refreshing water. But how does each measure up in terms of cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, and overall sustainability? We’ll compare these two types of popular water dispenser to help you make the right decision for your business.

What are mains-fed water coolers?

A mains-fed water cooler, also known as a plumbed-in water dispenser, is connected directly to your building’s existing mains water system. Working with your mains water supply, it filters and cools (or heats) the water on demand, delivering a consistent and reliable source of fresh drinking water. With no need for bulky plastic water bottles, these coolers are ideal for high-use environments such as large offices and can be a more sustainable alternative to standard bottled coolers.

What are bottled water coolers?

Bottled water dispensers use large refillable plastic bottles, usually holding 13 to almost 20 litres of naturally filtered spring water, to deliver ambient or cool water on demand. Once empty, the bottles are replaced, either by someone in the business or through a supplier maintenance service, to give a constant supply. While they’ve been a common sight in workplaces for years, a growing number of businesses are paying more attention to sustainability and limiting their use of plastic to reduce plastic waste.

Mains-fed water coolers – a sustainability comparison

Sustainability is becoming a much larger factor when choosing a water dispenser. So now we know the key differences between the two main types, let’s look a little closer at where mains-fed and bottled water dispensers stand in some of the deciding factors on the sustainability scale.

It should be noted that sustainable suppliers, including Thristy Work, are continuously taking measures to increase their sustainability credentials and improve their environmental policy in as many areas as possible.

Plastic use

Mains-fed water coolers

Mains-fed water coolers don’t need any refillable plastic water bottles. Since the water dispenser draws directly from your plumbed-in mains supply, there are no plastic bottles, making it a clear winner in the race to reduce plastic waste. This factor alone will complement any modern sustainability goals most businesses have in place.

Bottled water coolers

Conversely, bottled water dispensers need large plastic bottles to operate at all. While these are often reused until the end of their natural life before being chipped and recycled, they can contribute to overall plastic waste when they’re not. Even with proper recycling, the energy and resources used in creating and managing plastic bottles make this a less eco-friendly option.

Carbon footprint

Mains-fed water coolers

The carbon footprint of a mains-fed water cooler is much lower than its counterpart. Once installed, these water dispensers use minimal additional energy to operate and involve no use, production, or transportation of heavy plastic bottles, meaning fewer emissions right across the supply chain.

Bottled water coolers

While bottled water can have a low carbon footprint, with water waste kept to a minimum and bottled on-site, bottled water dispensers need regular deliveries of heavy water bottles, usually via fuel-powered vehicles. Each trip adds to the overall carbon footprint, and over time, the environmental impact can be sizeable.

Water source management

Mains-fed water coolers

By connecting directly to your existing mains water supply, a mains-fed water cooler is already more resource-efficient. The water is filtered on-site through the cooler itself, so there’s no overproduction or water waste in any bottling processes. These coolers also avoid additional water consumption for bottle cleaning and refilling.

Bottled water coolers

All bottled water dispensers rely on the removal of large volumes of untouched natural spring water from underground sources ready for bottling. Although these springs are protected, with suppliers going through many legal processes before the water can be extracted, it is a finite source. There’s also water waste involved in the cleaning and sterilisation of bottles during their reuse cycle.

Energy efficiency

Mains-fed water coolers

These cooler types are highly energy-efficient and designed with eco-friendly modes, so they operate without using much electricity. Even using the advanced filtration and cooling systems in each cooler accounts for a fairly small amount of energy compared to the wider energy consumption of bottled water production and deliveries.

Bottled water coolers

Similar to mains-fed models, bottled water coolers are energy efficient and have low running costs, even with their cooling systems. However, The production, filling, and transportation of bottled water still use energy resources. If you’re aiming to minimise your carbon footprint, the energy used for bottled water dispensers may be an issue if you’re trying to achieve any sustainability goals.

Why choose a mains-fed water cooler for sustainability?

While many suppliers are taking a more responsible and welcome role in sustainability in major areas of their operations, businesses are also more committed than ever to trying to reduce their environmental impact. Installing a mains-fed water cooler rather than a bottled water cooler could bring several key benefits to help businesses and organisations achieve this and stay on track with their goals. Here’s what installing a mains-fed water cooler could help you do:

Stay plastic-free

A mains-fed water cooler removes the need for large plastic water bottles completely. Even though the majority of them are reused and then recycled at the end of their usable life, many could end up in landfill sites or our oceans and waterways.

Reduce your carbon footprint

While bottled water can keep your carbon footprint fairly low, installing a mains-fed water cooler will help you avoid emissions across the entire product journey – from plastic bottle production to transportation – to keep it lower still.

Use water efficiently

A mains-fed water cooler will do exactly that – take water directly from your existing mains water supply for ease and convenience. Making the switch to this type of water dispenser will give you maximum taste and minimal waste.

Embracing sustainability with Thirsty Work

This comparison between mains-fed water coolers and bottled water coolers highlights that, while both can be sustainable in their own ways, a mains-fed model will just edge it for the win. By reducing plastic use, lowering carbon emissions, and improving water efficiency, mains-fed water dispensers can sit comfortably alongside any sustainability goals your eco-conscious business might have.

However, your business is like no other, and the right choice of water dispenser depends on your specific needs, space constraints – and budget. But if you’re looking to make more sustainable changes to your business, investing in a mains-fed water cooler is something that will benefit both the planet – and your team. 

Talk to our customer service team today on 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com to find out more about any of the water dispensers in our range. They’ll give you all the information you need while you can get your free quote and start your 10-day free trial to put any of our water coolers to the test.