Letter to the Editor: Bottled water safe despite article's claims
Bottled water company cares about the safety and environmental impact of its product.
Monday, February 18th, 2008
Nestle Waters takes very seriously the safety and environmental impact of our product. We believe more needs to be done to limit plastic waste. However, a story in Thursday’s Kansan makes misleading statements about its safety.
Bottled water is safe and regulated as a food product by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PET water bottles are deemed safe to use by the FDA and are not a health concern. They do not contain orthophthalates.
That being said, we recognize that bottled water has an environmental impact, and we’re working hard to reduce ours. During the past 15 years, we’ve reduced our plastic usage by 40 percent. Our new Ozarka Eco-Shape bottle has up to 30 percent less plastic than the average half-liter beverage container and is 100 percent recyclable.
But reducing plastic in our bottles is only a start. The reality is that used water bottles make up less than one-third of 1 percent of the municipal solid waste in this country. And with less than half of all U.S. households with access to curbside recycling, we are advocating for comprehensive solutions that keep all plastic household containers — regardless of what they hold — out of landfills.
Sincerely,
Jane Lazgin, Director of Corporate Communications, Nestlé Waters North America
Discussion
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First off could Jane tell us exactly how much fuel is used in the making and transporting of something that already comes out of 99% of peoples homes? Really please tell us how much fuel is burned...From beginning to end.. Thats one area that is never mentioned when talking about bottled water and its environmental impact. A lot of fuel is used and a lot of pollution is created in the making and transporting of a commodity that we all have access to already, its doesn't make sense to put all this pollution in the air for something we already get out of our tap.
Also antimony does leach from the plastic and even though you say its safe its still another chemical being put into peoples diet and that is just not something we all need. We need LESS chemicals floating around in our blood. Please add antimony to the label on the bottle of water if its safe so people know whats actually in the water...
Recycling of bottles only creates more pollution and all the plastic eventually ends up in the trash anyway, whether its put into carpet or clothing etc it still ends up as trash. Where does most of the recycled PET plastic end up? Over 90% goes back to China...On a boat...using fuel...Creating pollution...
Nestle(and all others) really needs to tell us how much pollution they are creating and come clean with everyone as to what the true impact that a commodity as needless as bottled water is having..I could go on but people need to educate themselves about bottled water, about the commoditization of our water, about how large corporations are taking control over our water, its time to come clean....
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