There’s no doubt that single-use plastic bags, coffee cups and bottles are frowned upon - and with good reason. Traditional plastic bottles are made out of non-biodegradable polyethylene terephthalate (PET), meaning one plastic bottle can take almost half a century to decompose. But that’s not all – it is estimated that one 500ml plastic bottle of water has a total carbon footprint equal to 82.8 grams of carbon dioxide, too. Multiply that by the 500 billion (yes, BILLION) bottles used every year, and you start to get an idea of the scale of the problem.
While the environmental impact of bottled water should have any committed buyer question their choices, many don’t. In fact, Australia has the world's second highest consumption rate, per capita, behind Singapore – even though Down Under bottled water is significantly more expensive than anywhere else.
With that in mind, it’s paramount for the architecture and design industry to help create interiors – both in residential and commercial environments – that help shift the mindset, and combat the issue. Luckily, with water filtration systems like Billi’s, promoting healthy water consumption without relying on single use plastic is easy.
An environmentally-minded Australian company that has been at the forefront of the instant filtered boiling and chilled water systems industry for over 30 years now, Billi has been committed to the elimination of single-use plastic as part of their holistic sustainability framework. Their high-quality water drinking systems have long been a more sustainable, and visually stunning, alternative to plastic.
Taking it even a step further, Billi is also reducing the number of plastics in their packaging – preferring to use recycled materials wherever possible – and offers glass bottles alongside their water system, making it even easier to steer clear from the plastic option. The containers are made with borosilicate, a type of glass that boasts very low coefficient of thermal expansion, which means it won’t crack under extreme temperature changes. This type of glass can often be found in wineries, labs and high-end restaurants – and thanks to Billi, in any kitchen.
Importantly, Billi’s ambition to help eliminate single-use plastic is only one part of the organization’s sustainability efforts. “Since inception, we have been committed to designing and manufacturing sustainable water solutions, reducing environmental footprint, and delivering long-term value for our customers,” says Daniel Walker, Head of International Marketing at Billi.
That’s why some of Billi’s state-of-the-art water filtration systems – like Billi Eco, Quadra and Quadra Plus – are certified Gold Level under Global GreenTag standards, redefining the norm when it comes to environmental sensitivity in the water system sector.
In addition, Billi has also patented technology that allows their systems to recover heat created during the chilling process, and re-uses it to preheat boiling water, saving energy as a result. “Billi systems also offer unique power consumption advantages, including thermodynamic heat-exchange technology, high-performance polyethylene insulation, and stand-by modes to conserve power,” adds Daniel.
Billi's meticulous commitment to sustainability flows down through their entire operation. Their manufacturing plant in Thomastown, for example, uses solar power to cover almost 40% of the factory's total consumption. With approximately 600 solar panels and six 20kW inverters, the factory generated 166MWh of energy in 2022, 94MWh of which was used onsite and 72MWh fed back to the grid.
With the ambition to eliminate single-use plastic, water and energy saving efficiencies, along with Billi’s commitment to selecting recyclable and energy-efficient materials wherever possible, the Australian manufacturer strives to maintain a low environmental impact across their operations and product ranges. They are committed to helping architecture and design professionals create highly-resolved, intuitive interiors – and reduce their carbon footprint at the same time.
