Earth Day 2009 Sees Measureable Improvements in Bottled Water Recycling and Reducing Plastic Use

This year, commemoration of Earth Day includes positive news for those concerned about recycling empty plastic water bottles. The PET plastic bottled water containers are now the single most recycled item in nationwide curbside programs, and they are being recycled at a record rate: 23.4%. That figure is a 16.4% increase from 2006’s recycling rate of 20.1%.

According to International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) Vice President of Communications Tom Lauria: “There’s far more work to do to maintain and expand upon our recycling leadership position, but first let’s take a moment to thank millions of thoughtful bottled water consumers for taking an extra second or two to put their empty plastic bottles in the recycle bin.”
This good news on Earth Day 2009 comes from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), which completed a major bale study last year in 15 locations in 14 states. In a bale study, NAPCOR took actual bales of collected recycled PET plastic materials and sorted the materials into seven broad categories, such as food product containers, carbonated soft drinks and still water. A second sorting took place by hand and containers were differentiated by size and color. The bale study locations ranged from Jacksonville, Florida, to Boston, Massachusetts; from San Antonio, Texas to Dawson, Minnesota. Each site is representative of collection methods and geographic regions for the vast majority of PET bottles collected for recycling in the United States.

Data from an earlier 2006 bale content study for all beverages, including bottled water, carbonated soda, teas, etc. indicated that the overall number of PET bottles counted per pound was approximately 12. In 2008, the total number of PET bottles increased to 13.78, a reflection of the dramatic increase in water bottle collection, as well as the continued lightweighting of other plastic containers.

To calculate the rate of recycling for bottled water, NAPCOR applied its latest aggregate bale study data to the 2007 retail sales numbers published by the Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) for all PET products. NAPCOR calculated that the national recycling rate for PET plastic bottled water containers (the popular, single-serve size containing .5 liter or 16.9 ounce size) has improved by 16.42%, over recycling data posted in their 2006 survey.

New NAPCOR research also presented the ecology-minded public with another benchmark: for the first time, PET water bottles now account for 50% of all the PET bottles and containers collected by curbside recycling. This trend was consistent in all curbside bales sampled nationally, with no major shifts observed in any other plastic container category. The biggest jump in water bottle collection for recycling was in California, where a state-funded consumer education campaign, which drove home to consumers the fact that water bottles are recyclable, seems to be have hit its mark.

IBWA also received word that the curbside recycling pilot program it helped to fund in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2008 has thus far resulted so far in a 50% improvement in that city’s curbside recycling program collection. This is being accomplished through single stream collection in large plastic bins and with an incentive from The RecycleBank Rewards Program, which credits consumers after weighing their recycled material, earning participants cash credit on a credit card. Final data from Harford won’t be available until late summer, 2009.

There is other good news concerning reductions in plastic use by the bottled water industry. IBWA recently tracked the average amount of plastic used in .5 liter (16.9 ounce) PET bottles, using sales data published by the Beverage Marketing Corporation to determine the lightweighting trend currently being seen in many brands of bottled water. In the year 2000, the average weight of a plastic water bottle was 18.90 grams. It has declined consistently on an annual basis and by 2007, the last year BMC has complete data (as this column goes to press), the average weight of a PET water bottle was 13.83 grams – a 26.7% decline. “Several IBWA members put plastic bottles on a very successful ‘diet’ and they, too, deserve commendation for proactively responding to public concerns about the U.S. waste stream,” said Lauria.

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Bottled Water Market Share Volume Increased in 2008

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) today released 2008 bottled water statistics, compiled by BMC, a research, consulting, and financial services firm dedicated to the global beverage industry (www.beveragemarketing.com). These numbers show that overall consumption of bottled water as a percentage of the beverage category market share continues to rise even though U.S. bottled water consumption dropped by one percent in 2008.

In 2008, total bottled water consumption was 8.6 billion gallons, a 1% decrease compared to 2007’s figure of 8.7 billion gallons. Overall in 2008, the entire U.S. refreshment beverage category fell by 2%, the first consumption downturn ever recorded in the packaged beverage category. Carbonated soft drinks and sports drinks both fell by 3.1%, while packaged fruit beverages fell by 2.0%. The only significant growth in 2008 was seen in newly-launched flavored and vitamin-added bottled water, up 8.3%, and energy drinks, which saw 8.3% growth last year.

In 2008, bottled water sales earned a 28.9% market share of the packaged beverage industry, up from 2007’s volume figure of 28.6%. “During these tough economic times, consumers have trimmed discretionary spending,” said Tom Lauria, Vice President of Communications for IBWA, “but bottled water sales decreased less than all other major categories and subsequently we now enjoy a slightly improved market share as consumers chose bottled water over other packaged beverages.”

Lauria added: “The faltering economy has packaged beverage sales down across the board. Some industry watchers have also wondered how much, if any, increased activism on the alleged environmental impact of bottled water is a possible reason for the drop. However, there has been a notable decrease in sales of nearly all packaged beverages including steep drops in many packaged beverage products that activists never discuss or protest. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of evidence that this recession is taking its toll on all forms of consumer spending. But there’s little if any measurable evidence that activists have had an impact upon bottled water sales. Bottled water is well-established and popular with consumers who rely on its convenience, healthfulness and refreshing taste.”

Consumers should also know that bottled water safety and quality result from multiple layers of regulation and standards at the federal, state and industry levels.
Bottled water is a packaged food product that is comprehensively regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is subject to stringent standards for safety, quality, production, labeling, and identity. Along with the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which are required of all foods, bottled water must comply with several other applicable regulations, including a Standard of Identity, Standards of Quality and additional, specific bottled water GMPs. Being a packaged food product, bottled water is also bound by the full range of FDA protective measures designed to enforce product safety and protect consumers. States can also regulate bottled water inspections, sampling, analyzing and approving bottled water sources, and testing laboratory certification. As part of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, IBWA members voluntarily utilize the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) for a science-based approach to bottled water production and safety. FDA recognizes HACCP as a key component of food safety and consumer protection.

“Consumers must also be made aware of the bottled water industry’s outstanding record of environmental stewardship, protection, and sustainability,” IBWA’s Lauria concluded. “Bottled water containers are 100 percent recyclable. Although bottled water makes up only 1/3 of one percent of the U.S. waste stream, according to the EPA, the bottled water industry works hard on a number of fronts with recycling advocates, communities, and our beverage and food partners to increase recycling. The bottled water industry is also at the forefront utilizing measures to reduce our environmental footprint such as LEEDS-designed facilities, dramatically light-weighted PET bottles and increased support for broader groundwater protection to
preserve our natural resources.

For an overview of bottled water regulations and standards, environmental facts, and other bottled water information, visit the IBWA web site at www.bottledwater.org.

The Power of Free Trials and Referrals

When approaching someone whose name you've gotten from a customer, do it exactly the same as your canvassing work except for the introduction. Call people first on the phone to set up an appointment, unless it is an immediate neighbor or a business. You may want to say something like, "I'm Bruce from Super-Dooper Water. Mr. Jones gave me your number and said youmight like to try our water service." At this point, there is usually a question on pricing, source of the water and measurement of the cooler. As soon as possible say, "I could bring your cooler over later today or tomorrow. Which would be better?" The alternate choice close is always a good tool.

This passage was taken from Norland's "Success Guide to the Bottled Water Business". To order your own copy go to www.norlandintl.com and select Success Guide on the front page.

The Cooler Business

In addition to revenues from the sale and delivery of water, the cooler business offers incremental income from the rental of coolers, the sale of associated items (cups, etc.) and the opportunity to develop synergies by offering office coffee or tea service (OCS) to commerical accounts. All of these incremental activities offer a cooler business the opportunity to be profitable.

In general, the coolers, brewers, 5-gallon bottles and coffee pots may be leased, sold, or given to the client for the client's use. In general, coolers are leased to the client, 5-gallon bottles are provided with or without returnable deposit, brewers are installed for the clients use free of charge, and coffee pots are sold directly to the client. Typically, the coolers, 5-gallon bottles and brewers remain the property of the bottler and are depreciable, "returnable" assets.

This passage was taken from Norland's "Success Guide For The Bottled Water Business". To learn how to order your own success guide go to; www.norlandintl.com.

Bottled Water Recent Developments

Sales of bottled water today can be traced to two separate,but related, categories of demand: (1) the demand for safe drinking water; and (2) the demand for refreshment beverage alternatives. These are clearly distinct categories of demand; bottled waster as a tap water alternative implies commodity status, while bottled water as an alternative refreshment does not.

This passage was taken from Norland's "Success Guide To The Bottled Water Business". To see more go to www.norlandintl.com and click on the Success Guide link.

Why Bottled Water?

Some consumers like the convenience of carrying
bottled water with them when they travel or go about
their daily routines. Others are concerned about the
safety and quality of tap water. Whatever the reason, the
use of bottled water has increased.

Public drinking water is generally safe and public water
works staff attempt to keep it that way. But industrial
plants and agricultural chemicals can contaminate
nearby municipal and private water sources.

Bacteria is one concern. For healthy individuals, bacteria
are not a major health threat, and chlorination of drinking
water or boiling it for about one minute easily kills
bacteria. Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant. Most
Iowa communities add chlorine in the minimal amounts
necessary to meet standards set by the state Department
of Natural Resources. Research, however, suggests that
prolonged exposure to chlorination by-products is
associated with an increased risk of certain types of
cancer.

Pesticides are a much greater concern, especially for
rural populations whose water supply comes primarily
from private wells that are not subject to environmental
and health regulations by government agencies.

Exposure to lead and some copper pipes are another
possible source of water contamination. Lead, for
example, may decrease learning abilities of young
children and contribue to kidney damage and elevated
blood pressure in adults. The toxic effects of contaminants
are particularly harmful to children, the elderly,
and people with weakened immune systems.

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Types of Bottled Water

• Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water is water drawn from a confined aquifer where water under pressure rises above the water table.
  
• Spring Water can be collected only at the spring or from a bore hole adjacent to the spring that taps the aquifer feeding the spring. The properties of the water drawn from the bore hole must be the same as that of the water in the spring.
  Well Water derives from a hole bored or drilled that taps the water of an aquifer. This water must be pumped to the surface.
  
• Purified Water is produced through distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or some other water treatment process. This water originates as either tap water (i.e., from a municipal system) or groundwater. Depending upon the water treatment process used, other acceptable names include distilled water, purified drinking water, distilled drinking water and deionized water.
  
• Mineral Water contains more than 250 ppm of total dissolved solids (FDA standard) which are present at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this water nor can it be drawn from a municipal source. In Europe, any recognized spring water with minerals can be called mineral water.
  
• Sparkling Water contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had when it was drawn from the source. Soda water, seltzer water and tonic are not considered bottled waters.

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Route Strategies For 5-Gallon Operations

Direct Routing

This method is by far the most profitable and sensible method to begin with. The direct method is a well planned, methodical approach to delivery. It is critical when establishing your area tha you send your salespeople to one specific part of the community. You should stress to your sales people the importance of Close Proximity Routing. These close proximity customers are often neighbors. Try to establish a route where you can deliver from one house to the next, one apartment to the next, or one office to the next. This close proximity will reduce transportation costs, decrease driver time, and extend the life of your delivery vehicle.

This excerpt was taken from the Norland International Success Guide To The Bottled Water Business. To order your own success guide, click here!

18 Interesting and Useful Water Facts

1) Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water.

2) At birth, water accounts for approximately 80 percent of an infant’s body weight.

3) A healthy person can drink about three gallons (48 cups) of water per day.

4) Drinking too much water too quickly can lead to water intoxication. Water intoxication occurs when water dilutes the sodium level in the bloodstream and causes an imbalance of water in the brain.

5) Water intoxication is most likely to occur during periods of intense athletic performance.

6) While the daily recommended amount of water is eight cups per day, not all of this water must be consumed in the liquid form. Nearly every food or drink item provides some water to the body.

7) Soft drinks, coffee, and tea, while made up almost entirely of water, also contain caffeine. Caffeine can act as a mild diuretic, preventing water from traveling to necessary locations in the body.

8) Pure water (solely hydrogen and oxygen atoms) has a neutral pH of 7, which is neither acidic nor basic.

9) Water dissolves more substances than any other liquid. Wherever it travels, water carries chemicals, minerals, and nutrients with it.



10) Much more fresh water is stored under the ground in aquifers than on the earth’s surface.

11) The earth is a closed system, similar to a terrarium, meaning that it rarely loses or gains extra matter. The same water that existed on the earth millions of years ago is still present today.

12) Of all the water on the earth, humans can used only about three tenths of a percent of this water. Such usable water is found in groundwater aquifers, rivers, and freshwater lakes.

13) The United States uses about 346,000 million gallons of fresh water every day.

14) The United States uses nearly 80 percent of its water for irrigation and thermoelectric power.

15) The average person in the United States uses anywhere from 80-100 gallons of water per day. Flushing the toilet actually takes up the largest amount of this water.

16)Approximately 85 percent of U.S. residents receive their water from public water facilities.

17) By the time a person feels thirsty, his or her body has lost over 1 percent of its total water amount.

18) The weight a person loses directly after intense physical activity is weight from water, not fat.

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10 Reasons to Drink Water

1) Water is absolutely essential to the human body’s survival. A person can live for about a month without food, but only about a week without water.

2) Water helps to maintain healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite.

3) Water leads to increased energy levels. The most common cause of daytime fatigue is actually mild dehydration.

4) Drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease the risk of certain types of cancers, including colon cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer.

5) For a majority of sufferers, drinking water can significantly reduce joint and/or back pain.

6) Water leads to overall greater health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that can cause disease.

7) Water can prevent and alleviate headaches.

8) Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance.

9) Water aids in the digestion process and prevents constipation.

10) Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circulation

Now by-the-bottle: New York City's tap water is so good it's being bottled--openly

In the five months since he started his company, Craig Zucker, the 29-year-old founder of Tap'd NY, has proved his hunch: People are willing to pay for New York City tap water, and not just in monthly utility bills. New York City water is, after all, one of the nation's healthiest water supplies -- so fresh that in 2007 the Environmental Protection Agency said it did not need filtration. Studies, including one by the Natural Resources Defense Council in San Francisco, have found that most bottled water sold in stores is essentially tap water extracted from aquifers, lakes and springs. To protect the environment from gasoline emissions and other damage from long distance shipping, Zucker sells Tap'd NY only in the New York area.

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Norland Flavor Enhanced Vitamin Water System

Norland International introduces it's new Flavor Enhanced Vitamin Water Sytem. This new system will give water bottlers the opportunity to add a great new product to their current line.

The Norland International Flavor Enhanced Vitamin Water System comes complete with all of the necessary equipment to manufacture their own variety of flavored vitamin water.

Contact a Norland representative today to learn more!

Bottled Water Facts For Immuno-Compromised Individuals

The quality of bottled water is important for all consumers who drink bottled water, but it is of significant consequence to those with health concerns or compromised immune systems. Some general facts about bottled water are provided here:

Bottled water may come from either a natural source or a public water source. Many bottled waters come from natural sources like springs or wells originating from deep within the earth. By law, these sources must be protected from surface intrusion and other environmental influences. This requirement ensures that surface water contaminants such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia are not present.

Bottled waters may also come from treated municipal supplies. All IBWA members using municipal sources reprocess this water employ methods such as reverse osmosis, deionization, distillation and filtration. This ensures the finished product is very different - in composition and taste - from the original source water.

The bottled water industry is regulated on three levels: federal, state and industry association. Bottled water is regulated as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bottled water companies must adhere to the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices, Quality Standards and Standards of Identity. Additionally, bottled water is subject to state regulatory requirements and IBWA members must meet IBWA's own strict set of standards, the Model Code.

Water is classified as "bottled water" if it meets all federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption or cooking.
IBWA members produce and distribute 85 percent of the bottled water sold in the United States. As a condition of membership, bottlers must submit to an annual, unannounced inspection administered by an internationally recognized, third-party inspection organization, the National Sanitation Foundation. This inspection reviews all areas of plant operation from source to finished product.

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WITH NEW FEDERAL STATISTICS SHOWING 72.7% OF AMERICANS

Alarming new statistics from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) indicate that 34% of Americans are obese, just under 6% are extremely or morbidly obese, and another 32.7% are considered overweight, according to data from a report released January 9, 2009, by CDCP’s National Center for Health Statistics in Rockville, MD. The International Bottled Water Association would therefore remind Americans that drinking water – be it bottled or tap – is an important part of a healthy diet.
The data in the report indicates almost three-quarters (or 72.7%) of all Americans weigh more than is healthy for their individual body types. According to the CDCH, “The prevalence of obesity in America has doubled in the past two decades.” As the CDCH report further notes: “A high prevalence of overweight and obesity is of great public health concern because excess body fat leads to a higher risk for premature death, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, gall bladder disease, respiratory dysfunction, gout, osteoarthritis, and certain kinds of cancers.”
“Good hydration – with plenty of calorie-free water –has got to part of the solution to this alarming and preventable problem,” said IBWA President and CEO Joe Doss. “We recommend that everyone drink more water every day. And bottled water is a safe, healthy beverage choice, whether at home or office or on the go. During emergencies, we see how critical bottled water is for disaster-stricken communities and the importance of a coordinated, effective response to get drinking water to people in need. Obesity is now a public health emergency, but for this problem, tap water has as large a role to play as bottled water. ”
Water is an excellent choice for consumers who wish to avoid or moderate calories, caffeine, sugar or the various ingredients found in other beverages. “Any actions by legislators or activist groups that would discourage the consumption of water because it happens to be a container (as nearly all beverages are) are not in the public’s best interest,” said Doss. “We should all work together to encourage consumption of water.”
In order to help individuals determine their personal hydration goals, IBWA features Hydration Calculator on its website. It is an interactive tool based on expert resources and the most current findings of the National Academy of Sciences, as reported in its February 2004 report, "Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate.” IBWA’s Hydration Calculator provides helpful suggestions about an individual’s total fluid intake derived from both beverages and food, and other information about water's vital role in refreshment, health and hydration.
To use the IBWA Hydration Calculator, visit http://www.bottledwater.org/public/hydratio_main.htm.


The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters. Founded in 1958, IBWA's membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, and state governments to set stringent standards for safe, high quality bottled water products. In addition to FDA and state regulations, the Association requires member bottlers to adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices that in some cases are more stringent than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice is an annual, unannounced plant inspection by an independent, third party organization. Consumers can contact IBWA at 1-800-WATER-11 or log onto IBWA's web site (www.bottledwater.org) for more information about bottled water and a list of members' brands. Media inquiries can be directed to VP of Communications Tom Lauria at 703-647-4609 or tlauria@bottledwater.org

© 1999 - 2009 IBWA

Bottled Water Market Share Volume Increased in 2008

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) today released 2008 bottled water statistics, compiled by BMC, a research, consulting, and financial services firm dedicated to the global beverage industry (www.beveragemarketing.com). These numbers show that overall consumption of bottled water as a percentage of the beverage category market share continues to rise even though U.S. bottled water consumption dropped by one percent in 2008.

In 2008, total bottled water consumption was 8.6 billion gallons, a 1% decrease compared to 2007’s figure of 8.7 billion gallons. Overall in 2008, the entire U.S. refreshment beverage category fell by 2%, the first consumption downturn ever recorded in the packaged beverage category. Carbonated soft drinks and sports drinks both fell by 3.1%, while packaged fruit beverages fell by 2.0%. The only significant growth in 2008 was seen in newly-launched flavored and vitamin-added bottled water, up 8.3%, and energy drinks, which saw 8.3% growth last year.

In 2008, bottled water sales earned a 28.9% market share of the packaged beverage industry, up from 2007’s volume figure of 28.6%. “During these tough economic times, consumers have trimmed discretionary spending,” said Tom Lauria, Vice President of Communications for IBWA, “but bottled water sales decreased less than all other major categories and subsequently we now enjoy a slightly improved market share as consumers chose bottled water over other packaged beverages.”

Lauria added: “The faltering economy has packaged beverage sales down across the board. Some industry watchers have also wondered how much, if any, increased activism on the alleged environmental impact of bottled water is a possible reason for the drop. However, there has been a notable decrease in sales of nearly all packaged beverages including steep drops in many packaged beverage products that activists never discuss or protest. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of evidence that this recession is taking its toll on all forms of consumer spending. But there’s little if any measurable evidence that activists have had an impact upon bottled water sales. Bottled water is well-established and popular with consumers who rely on its convenience, healthfulness and refreshing taste.”

Consumers should also know that bottled water safety and quality result from multiple layers of regulation and standards at the federal, state and industry levels.
Bottled water is a packaged food product that is comprehensively regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is subject to stringent standards for safety, quality, production, labeling, and identity. Along with the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which are required of all foods, bottled water must comply with several other applicable regulations, including a Standard of Identity, Standards of Quality and additional, specific bottled water GMPs.

Being a packaged food product, bottled water is also bound by the full range of FDA protective measures designed to enforce product safety and protect consumers. States can also regulate bottled water inspections, sampling, analyzing and approving bottled water sources, and testing laboratory certification. As part of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, IBWA members voluntarily utilize the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) for a science-based approach to bottled water production and safety. FDA recognizes HACCP as a key component of food safety and consumer protection.

“Consumers must also be made aware of the bottled water industry’s outstanding record of environmental stewardship, protection, and sustainability,” IBWA’s Lauria concluded. “Bottled water containers are 100 percent recyclable. Although bottled water makes up only 1/3 of one percent of the U.S. waste stream, according to the EPA, the bottled water industry works hard on a number of fronts with recycling advocates, communities, and our beverage and food partners to increase recycling. The bottled water industry is also at the forefront utilizing measures to reduce our environmental footprint such as LEEDS-designed facilities, dramatically light-weighted PET bottles and increased support for broader groundwater protection to preserve our natural resources.

For an overview of bottled water regulations and standards, environmental facts, and other bottled water information, visit the IBWA web site at www.bottledwater.org.

Bottled Water Continues As Number 2

Bottled water emerged as the second largest commercial beverage category by volume in the United States in 2003, and, despite its significant stature, it continued to grow at a significant pace in 2007. The category is growing even more forcefully on a global scale but in the U.S., volume is unparalleled.

In 2007, total U.S. category volume surpassed 8.8 billion gallons, a 6.9% advance over 2006’s volume level. That translates to over 29 gallons per person, which means U.S. residents drink more bottled water annually than any other beverage, other than carbonated soft drinks (CSDs).

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