Become a Botijolover in Alicante to support artisan crafts and the environment

Agost council has sent botijos to several authorities and institutions to raise support for its campaign to bring back the botijo.

The municipality of Agost in the LÁlcantí comarca of Alicante province (near to the capital city of the Alicante) has launched a campaign to bring the clay drinking botijo back into fashion to support and maintain artisan craft traditions as well as care for the environment by using less plastic bottles.

Botijos are one of the characteristic symbols of pottery in Spain, and the clay in this area of Alicante is ideal for their manufacture due to its particular porosity, hence a long tradition of manufacturing these re-usable water bottles in the province.

The drinking containers are reusable and sustainable, and they avoid greenhouse emissions and the consumption of toxic materials as no plastics are involved. Better still, the clay keeps the water inside cool.

They're a frequent sight in traditional homes and villages all over Spain and also make excellent gifts for visitors wanting to take a little piece of Spain away with them!

Become a Botijolover in Alicante to support artisan crafts and the environment

For all the above reasons, and in order to provide visibility and obtain support for the traditional utensil which is in danger of disappearing, Agost council has come up with the Botijo Lovers campaign and is inviting everyone who cares for crafts, traditions and the planet to join in.

The European Craft Days are running until Sunday (11 April), and the Alicante town is using the opportunity to highlight the importance of local artisans and raise awareness of the importance of recovering the utensils and customs of the past like botijos, which are far more sustainable than plastic bottles.

The council has sent botijos to 30 authority and institution leaders including King Felipe VI; Spanish government leader Pedro Sánchez, regional leaders, local mayors, the University of Alicante rector and even Pope Francis.

“We want to remind the heads of the main institutions of our country that the botijo and pottery is a sector that deserves more attention for all that it has represented but, above all, for all that it can represent for an ecological future,” Agost mayor Juanjo Castelló stated.

So buy a botijo and become a "Botijo Lover".