International Bottled Water Association | NEWS RELEASE | October 15, 2009
New You Tube Video Highlights Family-Owned Water Bottlers
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)’s consumer website www.bottledwater.org has produced a new, two-minute video, entitled “I Am Bottled Water” which highlights the key role of small family-run businesses in producing bottled water. “We are showing an important aspect of the bottled water industry,” said Tom Lauria, IBWA’s Vice President of Communications. “Activists want you to think bottled water companies are strictly big business. But in fact, the majority of bottled water companies in the United States are small, family-owned businesses. IBWA proudly represents both large and small companies. Ninety percent of IBWA members are small business owners.”
In the “I Am Bottled Water” video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSkkZj5xFRw bottlers from Virginia, North Carolina, California, Oregon and Pennsylvania share stories of how building a small business from scratch creates bonds within both families and their communities. In recent years, those critical of the bottled water industry have suggested that only large, multi-national corporations are involved in the U.S. market. However, the truth is that from coast-to-coast a wide majority of single-serve and home and office delivery (HOD) 5-gallon bottled water providers are local or regional businesses that play important roles their communities.
Bottled water is a safe, healthy and convenient food product that is comprehensively regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The families appearing in this video are indicative of all IBWA members, who are good stewards of natural resources, supporters of strong curbside recycling programs in their communities and generous contributors to many community-based charities. In times of disaster and immediate need, both large and small bottlers are generous with their products and their time. Whether its wildfires in California, floods in the Southeast or just thirsty Little Leaguers, these families join all of IBWA members in an all-out effort to help those in need.
For more info: www.bottledwatermatters.com
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Contact:
Tom Lauria
703-647-4609
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.
