Bottled Water Sales Growth Down (or, Consumers Wising Up?)
Nothing epitomizes unnecessary waste more than the plastic bottle that brings you the same liquid as your kitchen sink, for 10,000 times the price. However, it is heartening to know that bottled water sales are down in the US, attributable at least in part to increased consumer knowledge of the environmental impacts.
In the war against waste, the battle against plastic bottled water is on the frontline.
Nothing epitomizes unnecessary waste more than the plastic bottle that brings you the same liquid as your kitchen sink, for 10,000 times the price. However, it is heartening to know that bottled water sales are down in the US, attributable at least in part to increased consumer knowledge of the environmental impacts.
Some point to the economic downturn as the sole cause of decreased bottled water sales, but Nestlé—one of the largest bottled water producers—released a statement linking the sales slump to “perceived environmental issues” around bottled water. Additionally, PepsiCo and industry analysts acknowledged “consumers are increasingly choosing tap water over other beverages at restaurants and at home to help save money and the environment. Furthermore, research done by analysts at Morgan Stanley found that “23 percent [of consumers] say they are cutting back on bottled beverages in favor of tap water or beverages in containers that create less waste.”
In recent years, many consumer advocacy and nonprofit organizations have launched campaigns to educate consumers about the massive waste and environmental damage caused by plastic bottles. Production consumes energy and emits toxic chemicals, transportation requires oil, generating pollution, and finally disposal essentially amounts to littering, with 86% of all bottles put in the garbage instead of the recycling.
So it is encouraging to hear global bottled water corporations recognize that consumers are increasingly choosing to drink tap water over bottled. However, too often those realizations are followed by statements like the one made by Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s chief executive, declaring that “revitalizing this [bottled water] business is a huge priority for us.” Considering what is at stake – nothing less than the health of the global environment – it is imperative that we do not allow the bottled water corporations to achieve their goal.
