The Gazette
April 28, 2008
Re: Battle of the Bottle (William R. Brody, April 21, 2008)
Dear Dr. Brody,
I respect Johns Hopkins University’s efforts to be more environmentally responsible and your choice to drink tap water. I share your same goals, and as the CEO of Nestle Waters would like to say we are working hard to reduce our environmental footprint. Banning bottled water as a symbolic gesture to combat global environmental issues, however, may actually stall both American health and environmental efforts. From your position as the President of a University with a highly regarded medical program and a medical doctor, I urge you to consider some facts about bottled water.
Healthy Choice
Contrary to your letter, you pay for what you get with bottled water—a conveniently packaged, zero-calorie beverage that is competitively priced against its sugared drink competitors. And, that’s the choice people are making: almost three-quarters of our sales growth in the past ten years has come from sugared beverages. When you consider that one in every three children born after the year 2000 will be diagnosed with diabetes, combined with the fact that 70 percent of what we drink comes from a bottle or can, bottled water stands out as a critical option.
Safe Choice
When one chooses bottled water, they are also getting a safe product. A process of quality control and a closed system created by the bottle ensure its safety. There is little comparison between our product and what comes out of the tap. You will find no chlorine, no chlorine by-products such as trihalomethanes, and no traces of pharmaceuticals which are present in many municipal supplies in America.
According to the Centers for Disease Control it’s also an important option for people who have HIV. Their Web site states, “because you cannot be sure if your tap water is safe, you may wish to avoid tap water.” While tap water is generally safe and well regulated, it is often from surface water sources that leave it exposed to potential contaminants such as cryptosporidium. You can be assured these will not ever be found in a bottle of Deer Park Natural Spring Water.
Environmentally Responsible Choice
Bottled water uses less water and plastic to produce than any soda, beer or other packaged beverage. Nestlé Waters has the lightest carbon footprint of any beverage company in America. We’ve worked to reduce that footprint for years, and know it’s a never ending journey. In 15 years we’ve reduced the plastic in our bottles by 40% and currently have the lightest ½ liter bottle on store shelves. In addition, we’re evaluating alternative packaging materials such as bio-plastics and recycled PET.
We’re also an outspoken advocate for progressive recycling to reach the 50 percent of the U.S. population not currently served by curbside programs. Plastic water bottles contribute less than one-third of one percent to municipal solid waste. Our communities need a solution that captures all containers—from mustard to mouthwash.
There is nothing wrong with plastic. Once produced, its life cycle is infinite if it gets back into the recycling system. Plastic waste recovery is where the focus needs to be.
So rather than singling out a healthful product that benefits society, with an ever-lightening environmental footprint, I ask your help in engaging the minds of our future leaders to help solve the bigger issues at hand. I would welcome a conversation and opportunity to talk with you about these issues. You may reach me directly at 203 863 0242. Thank you for your attention to these facts about bottled water and for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kim Jeffery
President and Chief Executive Officer
Nestlé Waters North America Inc.
Greenwich, Connecticut
(203) 863 -0111
