Riverbanks reduces plastics pollution with new eco-friendly partnership

Riverbanks is proud to partner with JUST Water as part of the Zoo and Garden’s continued commitment to a greener and more sustainable planet.

JUST Water is a bottled water brand dedicated to responsible and innovative business practices to make a positive environmental and community impact. The bottles are 100% recyclable using plant-based (made from sugarcane) plastics and paper content from environmentally certified forests.

The water is 100% spring water that is ethically sourced from a partnership with the city of Glen Falls, New York. The Glen Falls watershed collects approximately three billion gallons of water annually from precipitation. The city uses a fraction and JUST bottles the excess providing a new industrial base in Glen Falls and funding improvements to the community’s water infrastructure.

“The partnership with Riverbanks Zoo is profound to us here at JUST,” said Ira Laufer, CEO of JUST Water. “The emphasis they put behind educating their visitors on sustainability, in tandem with the commitment they’re taking to lead in being an environmentally friendly venue is to the core of the JUST mission.  We’re so excited to welcome Riverbanks Zoo to the JUST family.”

JUST Water is now available to guests in all of the park’s dining and snack locations.

“Reducing Riverbanks’ carbon footprint by decreasing plastics pollution is an essential step in protecting the Earth’s ecosystem,” said Susan O’Cain, public relations manager at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “Plastic waste covers nearly half of the world’s ocean surfaces and has toxic impacts on animals, humans and the environment.”

Last year, Riverbanks removed plastic drink lids, straws, and bags from the park. The Zoo and Garden also offers its more than one million annual visitors convenient access to a variety of in-park recycling programs.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 2,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of America’s best public gardens. The Zoo opened on April 25, 1974, and for more than four decades, has connected individuals, families and school children with the world’s wildlife and wild places. Riverbanks is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is recognized as a global leader in animal care and welfare, education, recreation, science and wildlife conservation. It is the mission of the Zoo and Garden to foster an appreciation and concern for all living things. For more information, visit www.riverbanks.org or connect with Riverbanks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SnapChat.