Detroit Zoo Weans Visitors Off the Bottle -- the Plastic Water Bottle, That Is

Reusable plastic water bottles have replaced the sales of bottled water at the Detroit Zoo. Filtered-water stations are located throughout the zoo grounds, and visitors can refill their bottles for free. (Detroit Zoo photos by Jennie Miller)

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The Detroit Zoo has phased out the sale of bottled water — a year ahead of schedule — as part of a three-year initiative to reduce its ecological footprint.

Bottled water was previously the No. 1 seller among the zoo’s estimated 1.3 million annual visitors, generating about $250,000 in annual sales, when the zoo launched the green initiative in 2013. Only a few bottles of water remain, and once they’re gone, the phase-out will be complete, the zoo said in a statement.

Water bottles are the single largest contributor to plastic waste in the United States, according to Earth Policy Institute.

“Although the phase-out has cost us revenue, we believe it’s more important to walk our talk and do what’s good for the environment,” Ron Kagan, the Detroit Zoological Society’s executive director and CEO, said in a statement.

Strolling around the 125-acre zoo is thirsty business, though. To make the transition easier, the zoo sells inexpensive, reusable bottles at concession stands that can be refilled for free at one of 20 filtered-water stations throughout the grounds.

Since the phase-out of bottled water began, zoo visitors have purchased more than 15,000 reusable water bottles. Interpretive signage has been installed throughout the zoo to inform visitors about the water bottle elimination initiative and educate them about the impacts of plastic waste.

According to the Earth Policy Institute, it takes 5 liters of water to make 1 liter of bottled water, and it requires about a quarter of a water bottle of oil to produce, transport and dispose of a single bottle of water.

“The completion of this phase-out means that Detroit Zoo visitors are joining us on our green journey and helping to keep more than sixty thousand single-use bottled water containers out of our landfills annually,” Kagan said.

The water bottle elimination program is one of many initiatives of the DZS Greenprint — a strategic plan to refine and improve daily practices and facilities at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo, develop new policies and programs, and improve green literacy in the community.

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In recognition of these continuous efforts in sustainability — including completion of a $2-million energy efficiency improvement project and plans to build the first dry biodigester in the country — the DZS last year was honored with the only Green Award given by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.