Comments on: IS IT GREEN?: FIJI Bottled Water

By: louan

louan — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:03:07 +0000

Wow, are they just b.s.ing us or do you think they really believe this nonsense? This is so much spin Chung must be dizzy from it. So true about the emperor’s new clothes comment.

By: Environmental Stewardship for FIJI Water | Business Idea of the Day

Environmental Stewardship for FIJI Water | Business Idea of the Day — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:32:26 +0000

[...] IS IT GREEN?: FIJI Bottled Water [Inhabitat] [...]

By: paulbava

paulbava — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:56:07 +0000

The only green here seems to be the colour of money. Bottled water however is certainly a healthier alternative to sugar ( or chemical ) loaded carbonated drinks in – metal cans! At least they provide some form of employment and income for some of the residents of FIji. The whole bottled water industry is just that, a marketers dream and revenue generator and nothing more; with advertising geniuses telling us how ‘chic ‘ and ‘green’ we must be to consume this precious resource from single use and non reuseable containers at such outrageous prices.

By: williamemarks

williamemarks — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:10:39 +0000

I’ve been a water author, researcher, and water testing laboratory director for over 40 years – while also traveling to 15 countries to study ancient and modern water management methods. When I read Fiji Water’s arguments about how they are actually helping Fijians have access to safe water – my response is that Fiji arguments are as foolish and transparent as the Emperor with no clothes. If Fiji Water were to take just one year’s profits it reaps from this small impoverished country, and invest it into improving Fiji’s water supply – Fiji Water would solve many of Fiji’s water woes.

By: NaturallyEarth

NaturallyEarth — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:36:30 +0000

That’s a great, and very informative, article. I sincerely enjoyed reading it, makes you think. I find if I drink tap, it tastes bad here – like chlorine – then I don’t get as much as I need. I reuse gallon containers and fill them up every week for 25 cents a gallon. Not too bad in price and at least it’s a step towards eco-friendly.

By: Inhabitat » London Design Festival: WeWantTap by Provokateur

Inhabitat » London Design Festival: WeWantTap by Provokateur — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:00:50 +0000

[...] there a need for bottled water? On Thursday, we questioned whether Fiji’s eco-friendly efforts were really that green. And it seems that the folks at [...]

By: jeanX

jeanX — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:21:09 +0000

I drink tap water.
If your tap water isn’t OK,
seek local gov
then county gov.
I can’t afford to do otherwise.

By: wedes

wedes — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:55:11 +0000

Great article–great photos! In the next five years we will see a startling shift from plastic bottle purchasing. Already, more glass bottling is making its way back to the grocery shelves. Consumer demand will vacate the plastic sector and opt for glass or aluminum or not purchase. Fiji, may want to start assessing the benefits of striking deals with glass bottling plants around the globe.

By: brin366

brin366 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:04:16 +0000

What does “carbon neutral” really mean? Isn’t an “offsett” really just having the bucks to deprive someone else from accessing clean/renewable energy? Is planting a tree and “offset”, when that tree should have been planted anyway? Or how about an old growth forest that is left standing instead of clear cut…is that an “offsett” too? I see the polluting industries buying their way – same old story.

By: jenr1120

jenr1120 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:13:16 +0000

I find it interesting that we choose to rail on a company that’s at the very least trying. Questions these companies? Absolutely we must. I also find it interesting that most of us probably don’t know where our tap water comes from and have any relative interest in the local communities around those sources. If we all want true change, we should force ourselves to actually buy and think locally. We speak best and loudest with our pocketbooks (and our taps).

By: Neodim

Neodim — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:55:39 +0000

I advise you to see the BBC Panorama report on this brand. Ok it may be green on some sides, but when you take a look at the water ressource on the island, then you see the contradiction between being carbon neutral but not being able to provide safe water for local populations…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/7247130.stm

\\\”Called Fiji Water, it travels 10,000 miles to be sold in restaurants and upmarket shops such as Waitrose, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. Fiji Water\\\’s bottling plant supplies London\\\’s restaurants and shops
But on the South Pacific island one-third of the population don\\\’t have access to safe clean drinking water.

We visited villages where bad water had triggered an outbreak of typhoid – 20 people had been infected and one had died.

We saw hospitals reporting a constant flow of patients laid low by dodgy drinking water.

The Fiji Water company is not responsible for the islander\\\’s supplies.

They provide water to some villages near the plant and they are putting some money towards clean water projects across the islands.

Indeed Fiji Water would make the case that if you really care about the plight of Fijians you should buy Fiji water as it provides jobs and income for the islands.

But tell people here on the street that we buy bottled water from Fiji and most will still roll their eyes and ask: \\\’Why?\\\’

By: Adrianne Jeffries

Adrianne Jeffries — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:02:42 +0000

Thanks internetswasyes. If you are interested in reading more, Sustainable Industrie came out with a longer piece on FIJI Water coincidentally on the same day we did. Check it out: http://www.sustainableindustries.com/foodandfarms/29712099.html

By: mike016256

mike016256 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:47:56 +0000

Thank you, Inhabitat, for weighing a corporation’s green claims against their actions. I wouldn’t mind seeing a lot more of these articles here.

By: internetswasyes

internetswasyes — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:56:24 +0000

This is a great article. Really good job reporting that one. I think it was quite telling that Fiji declined responding to your questions about the water bottle itself.

I have a really hard time beliving that it is better for me to buy fiji water (which is carbon negative apparently) than to drink water out of a bottle I am reusing.

However, if I do need a bottle to reuse, it may be a fiji bottle, as they are quite sturdy.

By: kimmus122

kimmus122 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:51:26 +0000

I don’t really buy the fact that tap water consumption has not gone down. I know sooooo many people who within the past 5-10 years will now only drink bottled water.