Life Alive meals breathe meaning into healthy habits for natural-food junkies in Massachusetts. With locations in Cambridge, Lowell, and Salem, the demand for high-quality and great tasting food is met with an earth-conscious awareness in every order.
In summer 2013, Life Alive became one of the first business partners in BeCause Water’s “Drop In” program – a shared resource network of drinking water supported by a mobile app that allows users to find, drink, and share water.
Not only did Life Alive agree to make their drinking water accessible to the public, they became the first Drop In partner to completely end the sales of bottled water. We at BeCause Water admire Life Alive’s leadership in the sustainability community and recognize them as this month’s “Water Champion.”
We spoke with Laura Aldorisio, from the Cambridge location, about Life Alive’s commitment to water sustainability. In her answers, Laura shared how Life Alive’s partnership with BeCause Water is supporting the mission of the store for complete health and body vitality.
1) Why is water valuable to Life Alive? Does water affect the quality of your food or beverages?
The quality and purity of our water is extremely important to us at Life Alive.
Drinking clean, purified water is as essential to one’s overall health and vitality as eating organic vegetables. Our bodies are mostly made up of water. In order to maintain complete health, our bodies need proper lubrication and rehydration to flush toxins, keeping our organs, blood, and lymphatic system clean and cleansed. Clean, alkaline water also influences the body’s entire pathways, from proper enzyme production, to digestion, to brain function. Without water, our bodies build up waste and simply break down. Offering free, ph balanced, supremely filtered water that is free of environmental toxins and acidity is of high importance to us.
Clean and alkalized water absolutely affects and enhances our entire menu at Life Alive. From how we cook our organic grains, handcraft our organic almond milk and sauces, to our drink menu, abiding by our high standards of quality water is one of the secrets to our delicious food. One truly counts on the other.
2) Why did Life Alive feel it was important to stop selling bottled water?
One of the largest environmental hazards our world is facing is the pollution of plastic. The bottled water industry is one of the most powerful culprits contributing to plastic pollution, which severely impacts our oceans, soil, and atmosphere. As it is Life Alive’s mission to always engage and invest in practices that help nurture and revitalize our Mother Earth, we could no longer support its sales.
3) What has the in store aftermath been like since you stopped the sale of bottled water? Is Life still Alive? 😉
The Aftermath has been completely positive. Guests have been genuinely pleased and intrigued by our ongoingcommitments to increase our sustainability and evaluate ways we can be even more ecologically friendly. Instead of selling plastic bottled water, our Salem and Lowell locations have began selling glass Ball Jars along with Cuppow lids so our guests can easily utilize Life Alive as a “Drop” location with their own reusable jar.
4) Do you believe it is necessary for other businesses to take initiative in water sustainability?
Absolutely. Water sustainability is a huge issue that is affecting our world and environment that is not to be overlooked or underestimated. Water is our most vital resource and source of energy. Businesses and especially restaurants have a responsibility to be aware and investigate methods of how they can conserve water and enhance all practices to be more sustainable and environmentally sound. Our team members are trained to be mindful of water conservation and sustainable actions.
5) Have you had to explain to customers why you no longer sell bottled water? If so, What did you say?
We explained to our guests that Life Alive’s practices are always committed to promoting sustainability, reducing waste, and finding solutions that will encourage greater ecological health. By our guests joining us and engaging in this simple and conscious act, we can collectively be generous contributors to environmental healing, preserve our resources, and minimize our carbon footprint. We also posted flyers on our walls and on social media explaining the hazardous environmental facts of bottled water (thanks to our friends and partners at BeCause Water.)
6) How does Life Alive stay true to the health and vitality of bodies, communities and earth, as stated in your mission, with your new commitment to water sustainability?
At Life Alive, our mission is for our actions and practices to set an example for how anyone, from individuals to businesses, can make conscious choices and changes that can positively impact and create a healthier world. Through awareness, our goal is to enlighten, educate, and inspire how we can collectively make a difference in protecting and regenerating the earth and by doing so, the vitality of our bodies. Water is our life force. It should be our instinct to preserve and safeguard it.
Article by Tiffany Wilson
