The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has released a statement clarifying its position regarding a proposed ban on the sale of plastic water bottles in San Francisco, US.
If the legislation is passed, water in plastic bottles will not be sold on public property including parks, concerts, large public events and from mobile food trucks.
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Research by the IBWA found that nearly 63% of people will choose fizzy or another sugared drink instead of tap water with the non-availability of bottled water.
The organisation claims that the same situation would arise if access to bottled water is restricted in San Francisco, especially during events where consumers look for convenience, reliability, and portability.
Banning or restricting access to bottled water in the market can directly impact the people who go for the healthiest drink in these situations. The organisation therefore believes in the availability of bottled water wherever bottled drinks are sold.
The IBWA further noted that a study conducted by Quantis in 2010 found that bottled water’s environmental footprint is the lowest of any packaged drink. Additionally, at about 39%, the recycling rate for single-serve PET plastic bottled water containers has more than doubled between 2003 and 2011.
All bottled water containers are 100% recyclable, while PET bottles use less plastic than all other packaged drinks.
Image: Plastic bottles. Photo: courtesy of Toa55 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
