IBWA Statement on Town of Concord, Mass., Ban of Bottled Water in Plastic Containers

IBWA Statement on Town of Concord, Mass., Ban of Bottled Water in Plastic Containers

International Bottled Water Association | IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 29, 20110

IBWA Statement on Town of Concord, Mass., Ban of Bottled Water in Plastic Containers

Concord, Massachusetts, has passed a measure that would ban bottled water in plastic containers, effective January 1, 2011. This action was taken during a town meeting on April 30, 2010.

Bottled water is a safe, healthy, convenient food product. With the current high rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease, any actions that discourage or prevent consumers from drinking water –whether tap or bottled — are not in the public interest.
Bottled water is one of thousands of food, medicinal, beauty and cleaning products packaged in plastic. Any efforts to reduce the environmental impact of consumer packaging must focus comprehensively all product containers and not single out any one product. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, bottled water makes up 1/3 of one percent of the U.S. waste stream.   Plastic bottled water containers are the single most recycled item with a rate of 30.9%.
According to the Concord Journal newspaper, town officials and the town’s counsel have stated publicly that the town does not have the power to enact such a ban. IBWA is reviewing all possible remedies, including a legal challenge.
 
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CONTACT:
Tom Lauria
International Bottled Water Association
(703) 647-4609
[email protected]
 

 

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters, including spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and sparkling. 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, to set comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water products.  

In addition to FDA regulations, IBWA member bottlers must 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 a mandatory annual plant inspection by an independent, third-party organization.  

IBWA is proud to be a partner with Keep America Beautiful and a supporter of Drink Up, an initiative of former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which encourages Americans to drink more water more often – whether from the tap, a filter, or in a bottle. Choosing water is always the healthy choice.