Grist
September 9, 2008
Americans' seemingly insatiable thirst for bottled water seems to be slowing down, according to new industry stats. Annual U.S. bottled-water consumption shot up nearly 46 percent between 2002 and 2007, to an average 29.3 gallons per person. But the Beverage Marketing Corporation predicts that bottled-water guzzling will grow only 6.7 percent in 2008, the smallest increase this decade. The unconcerned editor of Beverage Digest assures, "If the economy improves and consumers begin to feel better, we're going to see at least some increase in the growth rate of bottled water again." Adds an industry spokesperson: "We have enjoyed meteoric growth in the past, but that's bound to level off." But greens laud an effective Think Outside the Bottle campaign, noting that dozens of cities are phasing out the bottled beverage. Says one tap-water promoter, "Instead of being a badge for health and status, bottled water has now become a badge for environmental wastefulness. ... [B]eing charged for water is like being charged for gravity."
sources: Worldwatch Institute, Christian Science Monitor, BrandWeek
straight to the report: 2007 stats on bottled water [Word doc]
see also, in Grist: Author Elizabeth Royte chats about the bottled-water boom and backlash
September 9, 2008
Americans' seemingly insatiable thirst for bottled water seems to be slowing down, according to new industry stats. Annual U.S. bottled-water consumption shot up nearly 46 percent between 2002 and 2007, to an average 29.3 gallons per person. But the Beverage Marketing Corporation predicts that bottled-water guzzling will grow only 6.7 percent in 2008, the smallest increase this decade. The unconcerned editor of Beverage Digest assures, "If the economy improves and consumers begin to feel better, we're going to see at least some increase in the growth rate of bottled water again." Adds an industry spokesperson: "We have enjoyed meteoric growth in the past, but that's bound to level off." But greens laud an effective Think Outside the Bottle campaign, noting that dozens of cities are phasing out the bottled beverage. Says one tap-water promoter, "Instead of being a badge for health and status, bottled water has now become a badge for environmental wastefulness. ... [B]eing charged for water is like being charged for gravity."
sources: Worldwatch Institute, Christian Science Monitor, BrandWeek
straight to the report: 2007 stats on bottled water [Word doc]
see also, in Grist: Author Elizabeth Royte chats about the bottled-water boom and backlash
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