Bottled Water

In Petcore's view the refreshing thing about this award is that Thames Water hasn't felt that it needs to attack bottled water. It is proud of its product and is making its water available to people outside their homes and workplaces. Thames Water is confident enough to present the facts and allow the public to make their choice.

In the plastics industry we are becoming used to the anger and vitriol that is directed by single issue groups and partisan media at their chosen pariah. Single-use plastic carrier bags and bottled water are recent targets. Their main tools are totally unwarranted exploitation of emotion and ignorance. They play on the public and media's lack of understanding of risk, their fears of cancers and other illnesses and their worries for their children's future. Single issue groups´ goals are outright bans worldwide - then they move on to their next target. Schools are flooded with extremely biased "information packs" and unfortunately their messages are endorsed and reinforced by almost all sections of the media. Input from industry is viewed as protectionist and is therefore misrepresented or ignored – "Don't bother us with the facts."

What are the real facts about water bottled in PET?

• PET is clean and lightweight. One litre (one kilogram) of water can be safely protected from contamination and spoiling by 25 grams of PET.
• Empty PET bottles are recycled and are collected for recycle from households and drop off points in every EU country. In 2007 1.13m tonnes were collected for recycle, 20% more than in 2006. They end up in a variety of applications – new bottles, thermoforming sheet, strapping tape, fibres (for clothing, furnishings and fillings), non wovens and others such as engineering plastics.
• A PET bottle provides mobile water for "on the go" people. It is the preferred, safest material for all beverages in the home, at sports venues, outdoor concerts and particularly on the beach, but ..... as with all packaging we must dispose of our used bottles responsibly in a recycle or litter bin!
• When disasters strike PET really comes into its own. Pictures of natural, and not so natural disasters show aid and rescue workers handing out essential, clean, drinkable water in PET bottles. They are light, compact, reseal able, easily transported to remote areas and are immediately available in large quantities with filling lines able to work round the clock to support emergency services. Thames Water was pleased to be able to hand out bottled water when a water mains supply pipe broke in Oxfordshire in 2008.
• It isn't a sin to take a bottle of water with you when you're travelling (it's calorie free)! It is a sensible practice. By all means reuse your PET bottle and refill it from a tap, but please treat it as you would a glass or ceramic cup and wash the bottle well between uses.

As with the customers for Thames Water's Tap Top – we all should have a choice!

Petcore would like to send its congratulations to Thames Water on their achievement and their well deserved award – and we thank them for their responsible marketing!