PepsiCo just announced that beginning in 2020, Aquafina bottled water will come in aluminum cans. As the concern for global, non-recyclable waste grows, this is the brand's biggest attempt to reduce single-use plastic containers.
Put your water in a stainless steel or BPA free reusable water bottle and get rid of some of the single-use plastic containers in your own life.

Aluminum is not only one of the easiest materials to recycle but is recycled more often than other similar packaging types. This is according to The Aluminum Association, a group working within Washington, DC, to help make aluminum the sustainable metal of choice worldwide.

PepsiCo says that this change, along with their current distribution of Lifewtr, which is available in 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a common form of polyester, and removing plastic from its new flavored, sparking water product Bubly, is "expected to eliminate more than 8,000 metric tons of virgin plastic and approximately 11,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a company press release.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US generated 34.5 million tons of plastic, with landfills receiving about 26 million tons of that total, back in 2015. So, while Pepsi's goal is noble, its just a dent in the overall need for plastics to be recycled.
Switch to reusable bags and help do your part to reduce the amount of plastic generated.

PepsiCo's ultimate goal is to make all of its product packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2025.

The 12-ounce cans of water will be available at food service outlets, such as work places, hospitals, restaurants, and colleges. They are also plan on testing it with retailers. PepsiCo expects the first rollout to be completed by the end of 2020. At this point, larger sized cans will be considered for the future.

Is the world ready for canned still water? Pepsi executives think so.

"Many consumers are open to this and looking for solutions outside of plastic. Our goal is to provide options and to ensure we are staying ahead of consumer trends."

Vice President of the Water Portfolio for PepsiCo Stacy Taffet, via TODAY Food by email

People have been very vocal about the switch on Twitter, with some consumers voicing concerns that liquid tastes different when in a can. Others have noted that there will no longer be a replaceable cap, meaning each serving will be meant for one sitting. Plenty of eco-conscious consumers are applauding the move.

Aluminum cans help keep liquid colder much better than plastic, which is an added bonus of canned water.

Aquafina also won't be the first brand of canned water. Open Water, formerly Green Sheep Water, offers both a 12-ounce aluminum can, as well as a larger, aluminum bottle with a screw on top. There is also nonprofit, CannedWater4Kids. They sell canned drinking water and donate a big portion of the proceeds to clean drinking programs.

And, just like wine and juice, there are also paper cartons. Boxed Water is a company which offers this boxed alternative in three different sizes, ranging from 250-milliliters, which looks like a milk carton, all the way up to a full liter.

When it comes to drinking water, it looks like many options will be available as companies jump on the eco-friendly train.