Water In A Box: When Did ‘Boxed Water’ Become A Thing?

Everyone has heard of bottled water. But what about boxed water? When did water in a box that is reminiscent in color and shape to milk cartons become so popular?

On Instagram, the #boxedwater hashtag enjoys 35,633 posts and counting. Just like with milk in a carton, the “Boxed Water” comes with a date that’s best to consume the product before it — what? — turns into stale water?

On Twitter, Boxed Water @boxedwater describes itself as both a water company and a project that projects its artistic leanings, all the while practicing philanthropy.

“Part sustainable water company, part art project, part philanthropic project & completely curious Boxed Water Is Better, is a boxed water company. #ReTree“

Indeed, with the company that puts water in boxes instead of bottles promising to plant 200,000 trees in 2016 in conjunction with help from the National Forest Foundation — as reported by the Grand Rapids Business Journal — it is easy to see why the packaged-water company is taking off on social media.

After all, most folks have heard ad nauseam about the damage that plastic bottles can have on the environment and just how long it takes bottles from bottled water to break down in land fills. However, toting around a non-BPA container for water isn’t always practical. According to Mother Jones, BPA-free containers might not be as safe as people once believed anyway.

So what is a person who wants to get their gallon’s worth of water in each day to do? Some folks might find it okay to literally tote around a gallon jug of water to consume throughout the day. However, that means the gallon jug of water, in general, won’t stay cold, and it isn’t necessarily easy to grab while driving. A gallon jug won’t fit the drink cup holders in most cars.

And bottled water is just so darned convenient. Pick up a 24-pack of bottled water and the most water-consuming conscious person is good to go for about three days.

However, switching to the water in a box is providing some folks with the same convenience without the guilt. And the little twist-off cap means a person can chug their water from a carton and replace the cap in order to drink from the box whenever they feel the thirsty urge. Plus, the boxed water looks stylish, unique and seems easy to toss inside a purse or gym bag to have at the ready.

How much does the “Boxed Water” cost? Third-party sellers on Amazon are getting an earful for selling Boxed Water at a premium price — about 10 bucks for 500 mL.

But, “Boxed Water” isn’t the only boxed water game in town. Rethink also sells water in a box.

Still, the noble goal shown on the “Boxed Water” website shows that those who use the hashtag #ReTree when they post their photos of the brand’s water in a box will have two trees planted simply by using that label. With a running counter that claims more than 127,000 trees have been replanted thus far, the company has a goal of planting one million trees within the next four years.

“You post a photo of Boxed Water with #ReTree. We’ll plant two trees. Help us reach our goal of one million trees by 2020.”

As of this writing, the #retree hashtag claims 8,562 posts on Instagram. Facebook has a plethora of #retree posts, as does Twitter. Therefore, the water company just might reach their lofty goal.

It doesn’t hurt that celebrities like Alyssa Milano are getting in on the water-in-a-box action. On May 13, Milano posted a photo of herself on Facebook touting the product.

“My picture of @BoxedWater just got 2 trees planted because I tagged it with ?#?ReTree?! Your turn!”

[Image via Shutterstock]