August 25, 2008
In Canada, on Monday August 18, the city council of London, Ontario, voted overwhelmingly to eliminate the sale of bottled water in a number of City owned buildings and facilities. Beginning September 1st, 2008, bottled water will no longer be sold in London City Hall and two other municipal buildings. The elimination of the sale of bottled water by contracted food services, in vending machines, and at City golf courses will be phased over the next 12 months.
City Council also banned bottled water at city meetings and is calling for an increase in the access to municipal tap water. A City staff and public awareness campaign will also be undertaken to support the rationale for these changes.
The decision sets a major precedent in the growing movement of Canadian cities challenging the use of bottled water. Canadian cities pondering similar policies, including Halifax, Vancouver and Toronto, quickly responded to the news stating their desire to follow in London’s footsteps. The City of London represents the largest Canadian city to date to implement such a comprehensive bottled water policy.
The impact of London’s move was swift and far reaching judging by the large national media response it has generated. The bottled water industry’s reaction is also a good way to gauge how clear and decisive leadership by one city council can impact the public’s perception of bottled water.
Nestli Waters and Canada’s two main bottled water industry associations, Refreshments Canada (representing Coke and Pepsi) and the Canadian Bottled Water Association, have been quick to respond with more rhetoric about how bottled water bans will have no effect on reducing plastic waste. It is clear from this response that they are scrambling in an effort to reverse the growing movement away from bottled water.
Refreshment’s Canada showed its desperation by choosing to critique reusable stainless steel bottles, calling them equally as environmentally damaging as single use plastic water bottles. Another tactic is the use of an oft quoted poll undertaken by Nestli that found that when faced with a choice between a sugary soft drink and tap water, people would reach for the unhealthy beverage instead of drinking from the tap.
The industry is resorting to insults on the intelligence of the public and ridiculous statements about the environmental impact of reusable bottles. Desperate times indeed.
Much like their products, people are not buying it.
The consumer backlash is clearly taking its toll on the industry in the public relations battle of words, but, as we can see with Nestli Waters first half results, the movement is also impacting profits as well. The Swiss multinational Nestli, the largest bottled water company in world, registered a 1.1% loss in its water division over the first 6 months of 2008. Business analysts and the company have attributed this loss to, what they call, ‘perceived environmental issues around bottled water.
Add to this the canceling of its contract with the McCloud Community Services District to build a water bottling facility in the town of McCloud, California – as a result of consistent pressure from groups like the Protect Our Water Coalition and others – it has been a difficult month for the Swiss food giant’s water division.
Resistance to bottled water has never been stronger, let’s keep the momentum going.
There has been much discussion in the media this past month about bottled water. A selection of this month’s media articles dealing with bottled water are included below.
[US] Bottling Plan Pushes Groundwater to Center Stage in Vermont
August 21, 2008, The New York Times – Hundreds of gallons of groundwater flow to the surface in rivulets here each hour, helping to create this town’s signature spring, a lush current typical of northern New England.
[US] No more bottled water at many St. Louis city offices
August 21, 2008, St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Mayor Francis Slay has a message for city employees: Enjoy the award-winning water, but stay off the bottled stuff.
[Canada] Plastic water bottles on city hit list
August 21, 2008, The Toronto Star – As other cities target plastic water bottles, Toronto is taking a broad look at a variety of packaging materials – including bottles – to cut down on its waste going to landfill.
[Canada] Municipalities and consumers out of sync on bottled water bans
August 20, 2008, The Canadian Press – As a municipal push to ban the sale of plastic water bottles begins to spread to cities across Canada, consumers across the country seem unready to break their addiction to the bottle.
[Canada] Clogged recycling plants sparked water decision
August 20, 2008, The Globe and Mail – The long journey toward this week’s decision by city officials in London, Ont., to restrict bottled-water sales, which has earned praise from David Suzuki and derision from industry, began three years ago in the back of a recycling truck.
[Canada] Cities ponder restrictions in wake of London bottle ban
August 19, 2008, The Globe and Mail – The water fountain is about to make a comeback. Plastic water bottles are the focus of a growing national backlash that’s turning them from a fashion accessory into the latest environmental taboo.
[Canada] London, Ont., to ban bottled water on city premises despite beverage industry protests
August 19, 2008, CBC News – City councillors in London, Ont., have voted to ban the sale of bottled water on city premises despite protests from the beverage industry.
[Canada] Putting a cap on our bottlemania
August 19, 2008, The Globe and Mail – With cooler temperatures suppressing the Lake Ontario algae growth that often lends August tap water a pungent aroma charitably described as earthy, the time is ripe to scourge the bottled-water trade.
[Canada] Water, water everywhere, but how many drops to drink?
August 19, 2008, National Post – The plastic water bottle. It is one of the quintessential images of urban health consciousness, and has become a fixture at such former soft drink strongholds as fast food restaurants, sporting arenas and the movies.
[Canada] First it was plastic bags. Now water bottles are the new faux pas
August 18, 2008, The Globe and Mail – London, Ont., could become one of the first cities in Canada to stop selling bottled water in municipal buildings as a growing consumer backlash against the product takes hold across the country.
[Canada] The Case Against Bottled Water
August 11, 2008, The Toronto Star – Canadians have long been proud of the mighty rivers and beautiful lakes that make this country one of the greatest repositories of fresh water on the planet.
[Switzerland] L’eau, seul segment en perte de vitesse
August 8, 2008, Le Temps – Pinalisies par le dibat environnemental, les ventes de Nestli Waters ont diminui de 3,1% en termes de volume.
[US] Nestli to renegotiate McCloud deal
August 6, 2008, Record Searchlight – Nestli Waters North America announced Tuesday it’s pulling out of its original contract with McCloud Community Services District and plans to renegotiate a new deal with this tiny mountain community.
[US] Nestli Pitches Pure Life to Latinos
August 6, 2008, Adweek To pack some star power into its first Hispanic-targeted marketing push, Nestle Waters North America this week signed a two-year agreement with Univision talk show host Cristina Saralegui, who will serve as the spokeswoman for Pure Life bottled water.
[US] Officials: Bottling plant idea doesnt hold water
August 2, 2008, Daytona Beach News Journal – A controversial plan to build a water bottling plant in LakeCounty appears headed for court.
[Dubai] Dubai Municipality keeps a close watch on water products
August 2, 2008, Gulf News – Two bottled water companies have been shut down for selling bad quality water, the Dubai Municipality said.
[Mozambique] Health Ministery Orders Closure of Mineral Water Company
August 1, 2008, All Africa – The Mozambican Health Ministry has ordered the closure of the Montemor mineral water company, which operates in the district of Namaacha, on the border with Swaziland, after finding poor hygiene conditions on the premises, reports Friday’s issue of the Maputo daily “Noticias”.
[China] New Swiss water making a splash in China
August 1, 2008, Shanghai Daily – Switzerland’s reputation for pristine natural beauty, a healthy lifestyle and cutting-edge technology were all key marketing points when Swiss entrepreneur Oliver Kay wanted to launch his premium mineral water brand in China.
[US] Restaurants Take Pledge On Water
August 1, 2008, The New York Times – Why should restaurants stop at Eat Local? Some environmental advocates believe they should Drink Local, too.
[US, Washington State] Water company makes its pitch to Orting
July 31, 2008, The News Tribune – Orting City Council members are continuing talks with a Nestle subsidiary about building a bottled-water plant in town less than a month after Enumclaw officials sent the company packing.
[US, California] Brown warns Nestli of lawsuit
July 30, 2008, Record Searchlight – State Attorney General Jerry Brown on Tuesday warned Siskiyou County
officials that he would sue if global warming isn’t addressed in plans to build a bottling plant in McCloud.
[South Africa] Bottled water not as clear as a spring, study finds
30 July 2008, The Mercury – Several brands of South African bottled water may not be as fresh and crystal-clear as a mountain spring and often contain high counts of common bacteria that could potentially be harmful to people with weakened immune systems.
[US] Calif. AG cracks down on Nestle bottling plant
July 30, 2008, Associated Press – Attorney General Jerry Brown on Tuesday said he will sue to block a proposed water-bottling operation in Northern California unless its effects on global warming are evaluated.
[UK] We have a drinking problem, and it makes oil seem cheap
July 26, 2008, The Guardian – A half-litre bottle of water in your average sandwich chain, now costs 80p. That’s around four times the price of oil. And it’s not like you’ve got an oil tap in your own kitchen.
[Canada] Vancouver moves for bottle ban
July 27, 2008, The Toronto Star – Councillor wants city to end bottled water sales at its facilities and turn on the taps
[Fiji] Snubbed: Cabinet rejects Chaudhrys water tax
July 26, 2008, Fiji Times – INTERIM Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has reiterated bottled water companies should be taxed for mineral water sales even after Cabinet rejected his plan yesterday.
[France] Eau dear! French turn on the tap
July 25, 2008, The Guardian – For decades it has been one of the world’s bottled water capitals, home to leading names such as Evian, Volvic and Vittel. But now France is turning its back on eau minerale in favour of cheaper and more environmentally friendly tap water.
[UK] Bottled water sales slump as consumers put cap on spending
July 24, 2008, The Herald – It has grown into an industry worth almost GBP2bn a year in the UK, but new research suggests that the reasons for buying expensive water may be running out.
[US] Credit crunch: Cost-conscious Americans turn on the tap
July 24, 2008, The Guardian – Worrying economic times are prompting Americans to cut back on bottled drinks in favour of sipping tap water – but they can still find the money for Big Macs, beer and chocolate.
[India] Coke to promote brand new Kinley
July 23, 2008, The Economic Times -Playing the pure and transparent card, Coca-Cola’s Kinley brand of packaged drinking water is in repositioning mode.
[UK] Bottled-water industry: Waterlog
July 19, 2008, The Economist – SPARKLING or still? The waiter’s question seems to offer a choice, but is in fact designed to deny it: tap water, after all, is never on the menu.
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