Thursday, August 12, 2010

Great News Thanks To You!

Mom read me a Huffington Post article earlier this week about declining bottle water sales and hearing this news made me do my happy dance. I have all of you to thank for this shift towards a more sustainable future so please dance along with me, won't you?

Did you know that Americans drink nearly 30 gallons of bottled water per person every year? Yuk! That's an alarming figure considering it's an average. For every person that doesn't drink it, someone else is drinking their share thus consuming 60 gallons! This makes my head spin. I'm always curious to know why people drink it and Mom is always asking people who do. The worst answer you can give her? It's convenient. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The article Mom read me was "Popping The Bottled Water Bubble" by Peter Gleick. In the article, Mr. Gleick reveals that consumers are getting off the bottle and taking back the tap:


"Last week, new data released by the Beverage Marketing Council, which tracks bottled water statistics and sales, show that the unprecedented sales drop that started in 2008 continued - even accelerated - in 2009. According to the BMC, the volume of bottled water sold dropped by 2.5% in 2009 from 2008. Even more remarkable, revenues dropped faster, by over 5%, suggesting a growing price war among manufacturers for market share. Imports dropped
even faster than domestic sales, which is a good thing given the vast energy costs of making and moving water. It is time for a "local water" movement."

YAY! All the campaigns against bottled water are working. People's perceptions about bottled water are changing and we are finally starting to see the results of all the hard work to change them.

Mr. Gleick has just released his latest book "Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water" and it's now on Mom's to-read list. As if she didn't have enough to read already! She is always reading books about the water crisis and this book is just going to add fuel to the fire.

I have to say that this news was the best I've had in a long time and I can't thank all of you enough. The word is getting out about bottled water and people are taking action. Together we are changing the world, one less bottle of water at a time.

6 comments:

Kellee the Caffeinated said...

Bottled water is supposed to be worse than most filtered water on top of the whole recycling issue!!! Glad to see that the numbers are declining!

~The Mama Monster & Lola Bugs

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

That is hug 30 gallons ahhh! We don't drink it so some one is drinking 60 gallons that is crazy.

Ok Stubby funny side note:

Mom was looking to see if a salad container was recyclable...it had no stamp hmmm mom thought. Then she picked up the tomatoe container wondering about it....it was. Infact it was made with 70% recycled drink bottle and 50% of energy from the sun to make the container. And it was made in USA. Mom never knew that a random tomatoe company could be so great. Go Victory Garden!

Hugs,
Tomatoe luvin pugs S&P

Stubby said...

Hi Mama Monster & Lola Bugs! Thanks for stopping by my bloggy! I love making new friends!

Bottled water is unregulated but most people don't know that. People think it's healthier because it has less chemicals in it but in fact it's typically the same water that comes out of your tap.

I'm glad you're on board with the bottled water issue. Keep up the good work!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Sequoia & Tuni! Someone is drinking your share too, huh? Pretty scary stuff!

Love the funny side note! I'm so glad your mom looks to see if things can be recycled. Very interesting indeed about the tomatoe container and very cool that it had all that information written on it. Hopefully people will see this and realize that buying tomatoes in this container is better than buying them in an ordinary container.

Go Victory Garden Go!

Stubby xoxo

Pee-s: I don't think I've ever had a tomatoe.

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

Stubby you haven't had a tomatoe...oh its funto eat! They make a mess!!

Sequoia

Stubby said...

Hi Sequoia! I bet tomatoes are messy! I'm going to have Mom give me a little cherry tomato next time she buys them. I'll let you know if I like it but don't get your hopes up. I hate ketchup so I might not like tomatoes!

Stubby xoxo