Bottled Water: Social & Environmental Impacts and its ...
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Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org Bottled Water: Social & Environmental Impacts and its Alternatives John Stewart, National Campaign Organizer Corporate Accountability International p-p2s7-55d
Transcript of Bottled Water: Social & Environmental Impacts and its ...
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Bottled Water: Social & Environmental Impacts and its Alternatives
John Stewart, National Campaign Organizer
Corporate Accountability International
p-p2s7-55d
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
•Supporting public water systems
•Challenging the social and environmentalimpacts of bottled water
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Top 3 Reasons to Think Outside the Bottle
1. It’s good for the environment2. It’s good for state budgets3. It’s good for our public water
systems
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Common Misperceptions• Bottled water is healthier than the tap
• Bottled water is safer than the tap
• Bottled water tastes better than the tap
• Water fountains are dirty, unsanitary
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
The Story of Bottled Water• Bottled water market
tripled over past 10 years
• One in five Americans drink onlybottled water
• In 2009, U.S. bottled water revenues were $10.5 billion
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Marketing Casts Doubt on the Tap
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Bottled Water vs. Tap Water•Public water supplies in the U.S. deliver clean, safe, & affordable drinking water.
•Bottled water is no safer than tap water.
•Bottled water is subject to less oversight than tap water.
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
44% of Bottled Water Comes From Public Water Supplies
“The bottled water currently purchased by the City of New Haven comes from the municipal water supply of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts, where it is then bottled and transported by truck over 100 miles to the City of New Haven.”
- Letter from Alderman Justin Elicker of New Haven to the Board of Aldermen
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Bottled water is often more expensive than gasoline and
hundreds to thousands of times the cost of tap water.
Costs to States: Budgetary Impacts
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Costs to States: Energy and Waste
•4 billion pounds of PET plastic bottles.
•Less than 20% of plastic water bottles are recycled.
•Energy equivalent of 32-54 million barrels of oil.
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Costs to States: Social Impacts•Currently there is a$23 billion annual funding gap.
•Political will to reinvest is in jeopardy.
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Infrastructure Investments
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
• Five states (CT, VT, NY, IL, and CO) have cut spending on bottled water.
• 125 cities have taken action to cut spending on bottled water.
• 1200 cities have made similar commitments through the US Conference of Mayors.
The Public Supports the Tap
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Tap water’s good for business
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
In 2010, 40% of Americans switched to using refillable water bottles from bottled water.
Impacts: State Leading by Example
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Great Publicity for Sustainable Solutions!
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Bottled Water Alternative: Tap Water!
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Resources for Switching to the Tap
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Bottled Water Alternatives
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Bottled Water Alternatives
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Bottled Water Alternatives
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Resources for Switching to the Tap
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Policies1. Phase out purchases of
bottled water for state offices, meetings, & events.
2. Invest in public water infrastructure.
3. Promote tap water.
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Top 3 Reasons to Think Outside the Bottle
1. It’s good for the environment2. It’s good for state budgets3. It’s good for our public water
systems
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Contact
John Stewart
National Campaign Organizer
Corporate Accountability International
617-695-2525
www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Corporate Accountability International www.ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org
Questions?
