Some of us just can’t get enough of the fizzy stuff. From the bubbly taste of a cold pop to the refreshing sizzle of sparkling water, we love our carbonated beverages. Apparently, on average, Americans drink half a liter of pop per day, making that country the biggest pop consumers in the world. The U.S. soft drink industry is a whopping $72.7 billion.
While the taste and texture can’t be beat, the environmental impact of our favorite beverages is quite heavy. From the production materials to the energy required for the production process, and from the transportation of products to the problem of plastic waste in landfills, the toll of the environmental footprint rivals our drinking pleasure. Then there’s the problem of having our favorite pop go ‘flat’, and having to dump half the bottle down the drain. Apparently, something can be done to rectify these problems.
Introducing SodaStream. The company is a leader in home-produced sparkling beverages, and while it has gained popularity in other countries already, it has recently announced the launch of the SodaStream brand of home soda-makers in Canada.
How does it work? The soda-maker machine turns regular tap water into freshly made sparkling water or your favorite pop in a matter of seconds. Besides the sleek, modern-design machine itself, the drink makers come with two specially designed BPA-free, reusable bottles with special caps that hold in fizz. As well, a CO2 cylinder is included that can make up to 60 liters of carbonated drinks, the equivalent to about 180 cans of pop. If you want to enjoy more than just sparkling water, you can choose from a wide variety of natural SodaStream flavor mixes that you simply add to your carbonated water… and viola! A fizzy drink ready to enjoy.
The perks of the SodaStream home carbonating system include convenience: no more carrying home heavy bottles of pop. As well, you can customize your drinks, giving them more or less bubbles, making drinks sweeter or less sweet, and even concocting your own flavors. The do-it-yourself approach can also save you money in the long-term.
One of the best results is a reduced environmental footprint. SodaStream’s carbonating bottles are reusable, thus they help keep empty plastic pop bottles from ending up in landfills, or save energy used for recycling them. As well, the CO2 cylinders can be refilled when empty.
It’s a fun concept: creating your own soda pop at home. It might not be for everyone, though, depending on how much pop you consume. Prices for the drink makers range from $149-$299. Drink flavors are extra. If you love carbonated beverages, and want your very own pop-maker beside your fancy expresso machine to add a trendy touch to your kitchen, you may want try the SodaStream soft drink system, and tread a little lighter on the earth.
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