Community & Labour Action
Of all the natural resources on Earth, drinking water is arguably the most precious. It is essential to life. As recently as 10 years ago, most people living in the United States and Canada took their drinking water directly from the tap or the water cooler in their workplace. Today, close to one-fifth of the population relies exclusively on bottled water for their daily hydration. Over the past decade, sales in bottled water have exploded in North America. It is now the fastest-growing segment of the entire beverage industry.
Between 1993 and 2004, the consumption of bottled water more than doubled in the U.S. alone—from 10.5 gallons (40 litres) per capita to 23.8 gallons (90 litres). (Source: Beverage Marketing Corp).
Articles
Australia: Councils banning bottled water
Posted: December 20, 2007 Live News. By James Cregan - Thousands of public servants are being told they won't be provided with bottled water and they shouldn't bring it to...Read More
Canada: Bottled-water levy back on tap
Posted: December 11, 2007 The Globe and Mail. By James Bradshaw -A levy on bottled water is back on the city council's agenda under a new guise even though a...
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Canada: Action group wants city to stop buying bottled water
Posted: December 9, 2007 Centretown News. By Myles Gough -A local advocacy group is urging the City of Ottawa to stop supporting the bottled water industry and to...
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UK: Council pulls plug on office water coolers
Posted: December 9, 2007 The Evening Standard. By Sri Carmichael -It could spell the end for the water cooler moment. Although coolers have become a...
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US: Poland Spring Foe To Hold Own Boston Tea Party
Posted: December 7, 2007 ABC8 WMTW.com. -FRYEBURG, Maine -- A Fryeburg man who's upset over Poland Spring's withdrawal of millions of gallons of water from a local...
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Canada: Sporting goods chain drops bisphenol A products
Posted: December 7, 2007 CTV.ca. By David Akin -OTTAWA -- In a move applauded by environmental activists, Mountain Equipment Co-op has become the first retailer in...
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US: Is Coke's Dasani from same source as tap water?
Posted: December 2, 2007 The People's Media Company. By Jennifer Thompson -Coke certainly isn't "tapped out" so much that it cannot afford the ink to print,...
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Canada: Bottled water companies just swimming in profits
Posted: November 29, 2007 The Toronto Star. By Tony Clarke -Last week, Toronto Mayor David Miller and the city council came under fire for entertaining a motion to...
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Canada: Water Watchers demand action
Posted: November 16, 2007 Guelph Mercury. By Thana Dharmarajah -Citizens group says delaying Nestlé decision isn't acceptable
The Wellington Water Watchers...
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US: Water-bottling plant's foes win public hearing
Posted: November 16, 2007 Orlando Sentinel. By Robert Sargent -GROVELAND -
Opponents of a planned bottling plant scored a big victory Thursday in their fight...
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US: Cafeteria worker says Pure Life bottle was contaminated
Posted: November 16, 2007 NY Daily News. By Chrisena Coleman -A school cafeteria worker who drank from a bottle of Pure Life water she says was contaminated with...
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Canada: Opposition grows to water plan by private bottler
Posted: November 15, 2007 Waterloo Chronicle. By Bob Vrbanac -Local residents and municipal officials are fighting a plan by a private bottler to draw more water from...
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Southern Exposure: Private Canadian Bottled Water Company Moves South
Posted: November 14, 2007 Polaris Institute, November 14, 2007 - In October of this year, Canada’s largest private label bottled water company, Ice River Springs (also known...Read More
US: Is Coke's Dasani from same source as tap water?
Posted: November 13, 2007 The People's Media Company. By Jennifer Thompson - Coke certainly isn't "tapped out" so much that it cannot afford the ink to print, "Public...Read More
US: The newest public enemy: bottled water
Posted: November 13, 2007 The Philadelphia Inquirer. By Sandy Bauers-PHILADELPHIA — Bottled water, once an icon of a healthy lifestyle, has become a pariah, the...
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US: Bottled water's backlash, environment pays, too, critics say
Posted: November 4, 2007 The Philadelphia Inquirer. By Sandy Bauers Inquirer Staff Writer Bottled water, once an icon of a healthy lifestyle, has become a pariah, the...Read More
US: Commissioners forgo bottled water
Posted: October 28, 2007 The Frederick News-Post Online. By Meg Bernhardt -A pitcher and paper cups replaced the traditional bottles of water placed in front of...
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Canada: No bottled water at Blue Mountains town buildings
Posted: October 22, 2007 Bayshore Braodcasting Corporate. By Michael Longley -Don't drink the water in the Blue Mountains -- at least out of plastic...
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Canada: CUPE Ontario calls on voters to elect a government that will stop wholesale sell-offs of water...
Posted: October 21, 2007 CUPE Ontario calls on voters to elect a government that will stop wholesale sell-offs of water, other services to private companies The Canadian...Read More
US: Thirsty? try the tap
Posted: October 21, 2007 The Washington Post. By Andrew D. Brunhart -Pop quiz. You are running out the door but want to grab a drink. You know that drinking water...
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US: Thinking outside the bottle
Posted: October 21, 2007 The Pasadena Star.Thousands of people across the U.S. and Canada are pledging to choose public tap water over bottled water. And it's no...
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US: The bottled water backlash
Posted: October 21, 2007 Alternet. By Michael Blanding -At Bella Luna Restaurant in Boston's funky Jamaica Plain neighborhood, you'll find star-shaped paper...
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US: Bottled water leaves some cities with a bad taste
Posted: October 18, 2007 USA Today. By Judy Keen -CHICAGO — Backlash against bottled water is spreading, prompting bans on the plastic bottles at...
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US: Fate of two proposed water bottling plants in jeopardy
Posted: October 16, 2007 The High Springs Herald. By Rachael Anne Ryals -Recent events may stop two proposed water bottling plants from being built on the Santa Fe...
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US: Salt Lake restaurant owners contemplate life without bottled water
Posted: October 15, 2007 ABC4 News. By Kerry Kinsey -Will your favorite restaurant stop serving bottled water? It could happen in Salt Lake City. Mayor Rocky...
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Stay Connected
BC Municipal Bottled Water Campaign
On May 28th, a joint package of materials was distributed to every municipality in British Columbia. Click here to read the letter sent to municipalities. Click here to see Municipal examples. Click here to read the press release. - Read more
Take the Bottle Water Free Orientation Challenge!
Now is the time to promote a bottled water free orientation/event to your Student Union and PIRG for Fall 2009. Here are two ways you can help: 1) Send Elly the contact info of your campus orientation organizers; 2) Call or meet with your orientation leaders to discuss bottled water free events. If you think you can do either of these tasks, please email Elly Adeland, Water and Energy Campaigner at: Elly@polarisinstitute.org
We will get the ball rolling together!
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Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Action on Bottled Water
March 7, 2009 - The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) adopted a policy to encourage their members to "phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water" on city/town property. Click here to access: FCM Resolution, Polaris Institute FCM Briefing Memo, Polaris Institute Press Release, FCM Press Release - Read more
Ontario Municipal Bottled Water Campaign
On February 20th, a joint package of materials was distributed to all 444 municipalities in Ontario. Click here to read the letter sent to Municipalities. Click here to read the Municipal Examples and click here to read the Municipal Options sent to municipalities. - Read more
Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Confronts Bottled Water
Click here to read AMO's memo to all its members on bottled water. - Read more
Nova Scotia Campaign to Turn on the Tap and Ditch Bottled Water
On December 12th, a provincial campaign on bottled water was launched in Nova Scotia. Click here to read the press release. Click here for Municipal Examples and click here for Municipal Options on bottled water. - Read more
JOIN THE BOTTLED WATER FREE ZONES CAMPAIGN
Create a bottled water free zone in your classroom, student union, workplace, union local, community centre, City Hall buildings, environmental social justice or faith based group, and more! click here to find out how you can participate in the campaign - Read more
CFS Bottled Water Policy Canadian Federation of Students policy on Bottled Water passed at the May 2008 General Meeting. Click here
FOI Request Template: Accessing Your University's Beverage Exclusivity Contract Click here
Cliquer ici
Alternatives to Bottled Water on Campus Organizing bottled water-free events on campus, such as Orientation Week.
Bottled Water FAQ Take the plunge! Frequently asked questions about policies for phasing out bottled water and re-investing in tap water.
Click here
Cliquer ici
Bottled Water Facts Fact sheets on the environmental, health, social and economic impacts of
the bottled water industry.
L'empreinte ecologique de l'eau embouteillee
Sante
Repercussions sociales
Repercussions economiques
L'empreinte ecologique de l'eau embouteillee
Sante
Repercussions sociales
Repercussions economiques
Municipal Action: Bottled Water Options and Examples Take the Plunge: Materials for Municipal Action on Bottled Water!
For Municipal Options click here
.For Municipal Examples click here
Community Organizing Package This package outlines some useful ideas and tools for building a campaign challenging the bottled water industry in Canada. Click here
San Francisco Executive Directive Use this example in a campaign to encourage your local government to ban bottled water. Click here for a copy
Student awareness to action kit PART 1
A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
Find part 1 of the kit here
A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
Find part 1 of the kit here
Utility Calculator for Vending Machines Calculate the energy consumption of your institution's vending machines
Find calculators here
Find calculators here