Comments on: Is Kohl’s new Sodastream really that environmentally friendly”?

By: Kenneth Gray

Kenneth Gray — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:49:34 +0000

I must admit to be very conflicted about the sodastream product. I have had a machine for about 5 months and love the machine and the sparkling water. And not having to carry bottled water home from the market and recycle the empties. BUT SODASTREAM USA IS HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH. Though their website promises 5-7 day home delivery of the CO2 cartridges, this never happens. They charge your card at the time that you place your order but do not ship the order for weeks afterward. Their is always an excuse. “We were implementing a new computer system.” “All warehouses were closed for inventory last week.” And do not even ask them to give you a date by which you will receive the order that you paid for weeks ago.

By: Ian H.

Ian H. — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:36:37 +0000

I have never done this before, so here goes:
What a stupid and pointless article !
I grew up with a Sodastream, which we had for over 10 years. I bought one as soon as they became available here. I just love the statement “the convenience of picking up what you want at the store” (from the article). This truly sums up our apathetic society. Is this the type of attitude to have in this day and age?
Besides, I enjoy being able to make what I want, when I want it. Maybe it’s a control thing.

By: Margaret Coleman

Margaret Coleman — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:29:48 +0000

I have had endless – ENDLESS – problems receiving exchanges for sodastream cartridges. For example, I put in an order on July 17 that I did not receive until mid- August, more than 30 days later. Customer complaints went unanswered, then they refused to call my cell and would only call my home number. Now they have charged me twice for the one exchange and my credit card has been hit with currency exchange fees. These people are dangerous and should not be in business in the USA.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:24:09 +0000

I read this article thinking that it would actually give a conclusion as to whether this product decreases environmental waste and I completely agree with Mike’s comments. This article is cynical and utterly stupid at best. There is no point to the article except to complain. It was such a waste of my time to read it that I was compelled to leave a comment…my first ever on the internet. Time to hire a new writer. I just bought a Sodastream from Boater’s World for $10 on sale after $20 rebate.

By: IthacaNancy

IthacaNancy — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:59:55 +0000

My family has been using a Soda Stream for two months, and we LOVE it too. My husband drinks sparkling water and I am so glad that I am not carrying all those bottles back and forth from the supermarket anymore.

None of us drink soda, so I can’t address your concerns with taste. I’m pretty happy with just water, but if you have someone in your family who ‘needs’ sparkling water, this is a very green solution. The frame that holds the CO2 canisters is very light (so it’s ‘carbon footprint’ is modest) and while it will someday become trash, I suspect we have already saved that much plastic by the bottles we have reused at home rather than purchased at the store.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:23:30 +0000

I bought a sodastream a few weeks ago. I LOVE it! I love carbonated drinks and went through 2 liter bottles of diet soda like crazy. I found out I could drink just carbonated water with or without a little lemon juice, so I was hoping I could replace my diet pepsi habit with the sodastream water and lemon juice. So far its working great! Im drinking A LOT more water, getting less artificial sweetener from the diet sodas, making a LOT less trips to the store, throwing away a LOT less soda bottles, and transporting a LOT less soda bottles into the house. Just wish I could find that $20 rebate!

By: Kev

Kev — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:41:17 +0000

I share the same thoughts as Mike and would like to add a little more information I’ve gathered, as well as my personal situation.

The carbonating bottles are exchanged much like LPG tanks. I’ve seen a few adapters on ebay allowing users to refill their own bottles at paintball suppliers for a fraction of the cost. I’m a little concerned that the quality of CO2 from a paintball supply store might not meet the quality for human food consumption, but I thought I’d just throw that out there.

My wife and I love to drink sparkling mineral water. Though it’s costly ($1-$4 per liter) and we’re left with a bunch of empty glass bottles, we can’t discovered an alternative until now. I’m going to give sodastream a chance, especially with the $20 rebate I received in Sunday’s newspaper.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:12:34 +0000

Do you work for FOX entertainment “news”? Like them, you just raise specious questions about a proposal you apparently distrust, without providing any indication that you’ve actually investigated the issue. I realize I live in an eccentric city (Cambridge, MA), but even in the surrounding areas, sodas are disdained while kids often turn to seltzer in its place. Meanwhile, “green” is cool, and kids are demanding recycling.

This product is not going to convert someone interested in the product for novelty, but what about committed environmentalists who already carry empty bottles home for reuse? I had hoped to find out the breakeven point both environmentally and economically, and read the article without gaining any new insight into the questions I already had.

Of course every product will break, but the more important consideration is if it will generate an overall benefit during its useful lifespan. I don’t understand the point of your article.