Someone told me 'Mount Franklin' water is tap water. Is that true?
No. There is no tap water in 'Mount Franklin' – only pure, spring water from pristine resources that are filtered before they reach you.
In Australia, the food laws are very strict and are regulated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). All CCA water brands, including 'Mount Franklin', contain only spring water, not tap water.
Can you drink too much water? How much should I drink each day?
You should drink water in accordance with the guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council. These guidelines recommend adult men drink 2.6 litres of fluid and adult women drink 2.1 litres of fluid per day. On top of this, your fluid intake can be increased if you're living or working in extremely hot climates. However these are guidelines only, as individual fluid needs can vary widely. No maximum amount has been set for fluid intake. Too much water over a short period of time can cause hyponatremia or water intoxication. Athletes who exercise at a high intensity without adequately replacing lost electrolytes can be particularly at risk of hyonatraeima and should seek the advice of an accredited sports dietitian to ensure they have a suitable hydration plan. Water intoxication is a rare occurrence in the general population. 'Mount Franklin' recommends drinking 2 litres of water steadily throughout the day and does not recommend excessive water intake.
By selling bottled water, are companies trying to replace good water out of the tap or a bubbler?
We are lucky in Australia to have access to clean water from the tap. With our bottled water brands, CCA provides something consumers want – a chilled, healthy and delicious beverage which is conveniently packaged for when they're out and about or at their desk.
Sometimes, in the event of a natural disaster or environmental pollution, bottled water is the only form of safe potable water available for human consumption.
CCA frequently donates large quantities of bottled water to communities during fires and floods.
Governments developing crisis plans to cope with threats to water supplies need ready access to large quantities of safe, potable water – which is what the bottled water industry can and does provide.
Why should I drink water over other drinks?
For general day to day hydration, obtaining most of your fluid intake from water is recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council's Dietary Guidelines for Australians. Other drinks such as milk and tea, as well as some fruits and vegetables, can also help you reach your daily target of fluid intake.
Isn't it more environmentally friendly for people to refill their bottles?
For health reasons, we recommend you do no not refill bottles because of potential bacteria.
Don't plastic bottles just contribute to landfill?
All plastic bottles in Australia contribute a tiny fraction to landfill - just 0.03% - and 'Mount Franklin' bottles are 100% recyclable.
Most Australians have access to kerbside recycling operations and we recycle 70% of the beverage containers we use at home. By ensuring we recycle our bottles, even when we're out and about, we can help the environment.
Did you know recycled PET can be used to make a range of items, including more PET bottles, clothing, bags and much more?
Doesn't bottled water contribute to a lot of carbon miles?
All 'Mount Franklin' water is produced in plants across Australia near the water sources so that water is not freighted across the country (or shipped in from overseas like some water). This saves on carbon miles.
There is very little energy used in the production of bottled water in the plants. 'Mount Franklin' water is bottled in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
What about water sustainability?
The entire Australian bottled water industry uses a tiny fraction of the springwater (or groundwater) allocated for use by all industries across Australia – just 0.01%.
'Mount Franklin' uses expert hydrogeologists to ensure our spring water sources are environmentally sustainable.
CCA has achieved world's best practise when it comes to water efficiency. Around 1.3 litres of water are used to produce every litre of 'Mount Franklin'.
What about the impact on the environment of encouraging people to drink 2L of bottled water per day?
'Mount Franklin' urges all Australians to recycle their bottles.
When there are people in the world with limited access to water is it responsible to urge Australians to drink 2 litres a day?
It's always important to encourage people to take responsibility for their lifestyles and we're encouraging Australians, over the long hot summer, to remember to get enough fluids every day for proper hydration. Some groups are particularly at risk of dehydration during the summer months, including the elderly, young children and those who exercise at a high level of intensity. This promotion may serve as a timely reminder to all groups about the importance of adequate hydration.
Plastic Bottles
Are plastic bottles one of the main contributors to landfill in Australia?
In total PET bottles comprise less than 0.3% of landfill.
CCA has been "lightweighting" – or using less and less PET plastic – for years. In fact we have saved 18,000 tonnes of PET through lightweighting our bottles over the past four years. There are ongoing projects which will reduce the plastic used in our bottles even further.
How good are Australians at recycling?
Most Australians have access to kerbside recycling operations and we recycle around 70% of the beverage containers we use at home. This is a very high level of home recycling.
CCA is also working on ways for more bottles consumed away from home to be recycled.
Our Refresh Recycle Renew campaigns, which were launched in 2004 and include the provision of recycling bins in major public places and at events such as the Tamworth Country Music festival and the recent Live Earth concerts, aim to help people recycle containers when people are away from home.
CCA has also invested in public recycling bins at places including Thredbo, Taronga Zoo, First Fleet Park, Australia Zoo and Luna Park in Sydney.
The beverage industry has invested over $70 million in the past 20 years to improve recycling and reduce litter.
What other industry initiatives are being undertaken?
CCA is a founding member of the National Packaging Covenant, an agreement signed by Federal, state and local Australian governments, as well as 470 businesses, which is working towards a national solution to achieving 65% recycling rates, and other environmental outcomes, by 2010.
NSW local councils are the only local governments in Australia (outside the NT) which have chosen not to participate in the National Packaging Covenant.
By contrast, Victoria, where local government engages with industry, is regarded as the national leader in waste management and recycling initiatives.
Fast facts on recycling
Myths:
MYTH
Bottles with plastic recycling numbers below "5" release cancer-causing chemicals
Like all materials intended to come in contact with foods or beverages, the plastics that are used to make beverage bottles are subject to federal safety review and regulations. Such materials must meet stringent Australian safety standards before they can be marketed to consumers.
So, what's in a number? The numeric codes that you see on many plastic items are used to help sort post-consumer plastics for recycling purposes. Different types of plastics are sometimes referred to as "resins" and the numeric symbols are known as "Resin ID Codes." Each number (1 to 6) signifies a specific type of plastic and usually appears inside a small triangle (often formed by three adjoining arrows) imprinted on the bottom of a plastic item. 'Mount Franklin' bottles are PET, which are coded '1' and glass, which are both 100% recyclable.