We've received some questions about the recent media coverage on voluntary water bottle 'bans' in Australia. In this section we provide information about the sustainability of 'Mount Franklin', and let you know why you can feel good about choosing 'Mount Franklin'.
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We are proud to bring you pure, natural water that's made by nature and collected only from sustainable water sources. We are passionate about protecting and nurturing the environment we share, and preserving the purity of our water sources.
As bottlers of 'Mount Franklin', it is our mission to:
In our efforts to protect precious natural resources, we have established performance targets for the amount of water and energy used to produce a litre of 'Mount Franklin' water. By reducing the amount of resources it takes to bottle our water, we can help conserve these resources for future generations.
We also work with government and non government organisations on environmental issues, and take part in environmental initiatives and groups.
We are a:
Our commitment to protecting the environment is something 'Mount Franklin' shares with many Australians and we understand there are a number of questions and myths around the production of bottled water.
Carbon footprint
'Mount Franklin' water is bottled in New South Wales, Queensland Victoria and Western Australia, using water that's sourced near to the bottling plants. It isn't shipped across the country or brought in from overseas, so our carbon footprint can be kept to a minimum. Very little energy is actually used to produce bottled water in the plants, and Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA), the company that owns Mount Franklin, is a leader in water and energy efficiency within its industry
Landfill
You may be surprised to learn that plastic bottles contribute only a tiny fraction to landfill – in fact just 0.3%. And 'Mount Franklin' bottles are 100% recyclable.
Australians recycle 70% of the bottles they use in the home . By ensuring we continue to recycle our bottles, even when we're out and about, we can minimise any negative effects on the environment. Recycled PET bottles can be used to make a range of items including more PET bottles, clothing, bags and much more.
Recycling
'Mount Franklin' has been an advocate of environmentally sustainable practices for some time. In 1994, CCA became the first company in the world to package drinks using recycled materials in PET bottles. CCA's PET beverage containers have been 'light-weighted', meaning they've been made using less plastic. By doing this, we saved more than 21,000 tonnes of PET, or 625 million bottles, between 2003 and 2008.
As part of the CCA's 'Refresh Recycle Renew' campaign, launched in 2004, we placed recycling bins in major public places and at events to help people recycle containers when they're away from home.
The industry is also doing its part, investing over $70 million in the past 20 years to improve recycling and reduce litter. Visy has doubled its collection of used PET bottles between 2003-04 and 2006-07.
Most Australians have access to roadside recycling and understand the importance of recycling. A 2006 Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) report showed that PET is recycled at more than double the rate of all plastics.
Australia's bottled water industry uses just 0.01% of spring water allocated for use across the country.
'Mount Franklin' uses expert hydrogeologists to make sure our spring water sources are environmentally sustainable.
We're proud to say that CCA has achieved world's best practice when it comes to water efficiency. Around 1.3 litres of water are used to produce every litre of 'Mount Franklin'.
For full details, including Coca-Cola Amatil's Corporate Environmental Policy, visit http://www.ccamatil.com.au/environment.asp
Sources:
'Mount Franklin' water delivers additional benefits, beyond the wellbeing benefits of pure spring water, by providing a helping hand to communities in need.
During a natural disaster access to clean water is often restricted or unavailable. 'Mount Franklin' has helped to provide clean water during these times. For example, after the storms in 2008 that devastated South East Queensland, 'Mount Franklin' delivered thousands of bottles to residents in need through the Qld Department of Communities and The Salvation Army. We also have an ongoing agreement with emergency services in all states to supply bottled water in emergency situations.
Bottled water general questions
1. Why do people drink bottled water?2. Does that mean people's habits are changing?3. Does bottled water have a big carbon footprint?4. What happens with recycling and packaging waste in Australia?5. What are the environmental impacts of products in Australia?6. I have heard some community groups and local councils are voluntarily 'banning' bottled water. What does that mean?
1. Why do people drink bottled water?
We are lucky in Australia to have clean water from the tap. But consumers also want the convenience of fresh, cold water when they're out and about.
People choose to drink bottled water as an alternative to other beverages in the shop fridge, not as an alternative to tap water.
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2. Does that mean people's habits are changing?
Yes. What Australians consume today is different from even 10 years ago. We are making healthier, informed choices and for many people bottled water is one of those choices.
3. Does bottled water have a big carbon footprint?
We believe that bottled water has the lowest carbon footprint of any commercially produced beverage.
Australia's bottled water industry and brands are largely produced locally, creating a sustainable local industry. Mount Franklin bottled water has a smaller carbon footprint than imported products, such as luxury packaged food or clothing.
4. What happens with recycling and packaging waste in Australia?
Packaging industry figures show that 92% of Australian households are covered by kerbside recycling and that we have about an 80% participation rate. We also have a 35.6% recycling rate for PET.
CCA has a great record with recycling initiatives. In 1994, CCA became the first company in the world to package a food-grade product using recycled content in PET. Today, on average, we use 15% recycled content in our PET bottles.
CCA's PET beverage containers have been 'light-weighted' (made using less plastic), saving 21,000 tonnes of plastic between 2003 and 2008. We are continuing to innovate with our suppliers to improve our packaging even more.
CCA is running major customer recycling initiatives in 2009-10. We estimate that through our customer programs, an extra 700 tonnes of material will be collected and recycled in Australia by the end of 2010. This is equivalent to 31.5 million 600ml PET bottles.
5. What are the environmental impacts of products in Australia?
Consumer goods – from foods to electronics – come in packaging and require energy to bring them into our homes. Rather than single out one product or container, industry, government and consumers can work together to increase recycling of all products.
6. I have heard some community groups and local councils are voluntarily 'banning' bottled water. What does that mean?
Some residents in the town of Bundanoon, in the NSW Southern Highlands, voted at a community meeting on Wednesday 8 July 2009 to voluntarily 'ban' local retail sales of bottled water in their town.
While a community can't ban the sale of any product without the support of Australian law, it can encourage visitors and residents to drink water from bubblers or recommend that retailers sell refillable water bottles.