Scottish Government loses its bottle

27 January 2010

Did you know it takes 162g of oil and seven litres of water to manufacture a one-litre of bottled water, creating over 100g of greenhouse gas emissions per empty bottle? That's 10 balloons full of CO2.

Last year, over 30,000 11 litre bottles were delivered to Scottish Government buildings - thousands of miles travelled and carbon emitted, to deliver a resource that's readily available by turning on a tap. No wonder the Environmental team pledged to remove bottled water from the main Estate by the end of December 2009.

Working with the Scottish Government's Facilities and Estates Services, CGCoPE placed a four year Framework for mains-fed chilled, filtered, drinking water with PHS Waterlogic. Fulfilling the Environmental team's pledge, mains-fed water coolers have already been installed in Victoria Quay, St Andrews House, Saughton House, and Europa Building.           

Recognising that some Collaborative Partners will continue to need bottles - as the associated works to plumb and power mains-fed units may not possible in our oldest buildings - a Framework for bottles, cooler units, consumables and associated services was awarded to Powwow Ltd.  

Both frameworks are available to the Scottish Government, its Agencies, Associated Departments, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. Both suppliers have agreed to work with CGCoPE and Collaborative Partners to calculate reductions in cost and carbon footprint in moving to mains-fed supplies, and help manage the transition from bottle use.  
  
                               

For more information, please contact:

Gerald Toal
Portfolio Specialist
CGCoPE
0141 242 5806
gerald.toal@scotland.gsi.gov.uk