NEWS AND FAQs

South Africa’s growing water crisis has forced many consumers to find alternative drinking water sources. Although bottled water is always available in times of crises, it is normally sold as…

When dining out or attending a conference, you might notice an increasing trend: restaurants, hotels and conference centres are filling and serving water in bottles that appear to be eco-friendly…

Compostable and biodegradable packaging, currently mooted as the ‘silver bullets’ that will end South Africa’s plastic packaging pollution and landfill challenges, may not deserve the ‘green’ image they have been…

South Africans need a ‘new-normal’ when it comes to water – they need to become water-conscious and water-conservationist if they are to enjoy water security in their future. This was…

Three separate audit reports have shown that over 50% of South Africa’s municipal water systems are not treated to safe drinking standards or, in the worst-case scenarios, are polluted by…

Given the questionable state of the water many of South Africa’s municipalities are distributing via the ‘tap’ system, it is not surprising the country’s citizens are seeking alternatives. Taking advantage…

Our country’s post-consumer recycling rates for beverage bottles are high but they could be higher if South Africans would learn one simple rule – put nothing in the bottle. This…

South Africans who believe the quality of the water in their taps has been compromised are forced to choose from alternatives available to them. And the go-to solution for many…

The recent cholera outbreaks in Gauteng have resulted in an increase in queries to the South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) by people wanting to know how they can…

South Africans who are serious about being part of the solution when it comes to the country’s plastic pollution must ‘think local’ and not adopt technologies embraced by developed nations…

“Tenuous at best, passing the buck at worst” is the reaction from South African National Bottled Water Association CEO, Charlotte Metcalf, to a report shifting the blame for the lack…

The primary objective of Earth Day, celebrated globally on April 22 this year, is to promote sustainability and conservation with projects focusing on carbon emissions, protecting endangered species and the…

National Water Week 2023, taking place from March 20 to 26, should be a rallying call for South Africans to think smarter about water security in their country. This is…

Load shedding is not just about the inconvenience of being without lights or television and the means to cook a meal, it negatively impacts our ability to earn a living,…

The accuracy – and therefore validity – of the ‘Tests find toxic bottled water in Pretoria’ research has been questioned by a respected hydrogeologist and author after the South African…

‘Be wary of fly-by-night bottled water brands’ is the main take out from an article published this week on Business Insider. That’s the opinion of South African National Bottled Water…

In a few weeks, many South Africans will set off for their annual holiday. Smart holidaymakers will ensure their beach bags and hiking rucksacks contain sun screens and hats to…

PET, the recyclable and food-grade plastic most often used for beverage bottles, is often criticised as the cause of the plastic waste that pollutes our environment. As a result, there…

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) is challenging all South Africans to get both physical and cerebral this Clean-Up & Recycle Week. Clean-Up & Recycle Week takes place…

Each year, an estimated 800 to 1 000 new words are added to English language dictionaries. In 2021, one of those was ‘wishcycling’. Wishcycling is defined as ‘the practice of putting…

The most important consideration for restaurants, hotels, catering companies and others in the HORECA sector seeking to manage their plastic waste is to choose their partners wisely and critically evaluate…

Groundwater has always been critically important to human society and ecosystems, but it hasn’t been fully recognised. To help countries with high water security risks, groundwater should be at the…

Bottled water has snatched the lion’s share of the non-alcoholic beverage market in the United States, surpassing the record that carbonated soft drinks previously held. This was recently announced by…

The rationale for the development of plastic – and specifically the plastic bag – is a reminder that we should prioritise reusing the plastic we consume. So says South African…

South Africa’s plastic recycling industry was severely challenged but delivered figures that are to be applauded. This is the opinion of South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) CEO, Charlotte…

In a few weeks, many South Africans will set off for their annual holiday. Sensible travelers will ensure their beach bags and hiking rucksacks contain sun screens and hats to…

A study conducted by Trayak LLC, a packaging design and manufacturing consultancy based in the USA, has highlighted that the most sustainable option for packaged water is the 500 ml…

There’s good news for South Africans this World Water Monitoring Day (September 18) – SANBWA continues to prioritise the protection of the country’s water sources. The primary objective of World…

As countries open their borders and international flights resume, South Africans can help give their tourism economy a fighting chance at rebounding quickly to pre-Covid levels by cleaning up and…

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) continues to prioritise protection of the country’s water sources in the just-launched 4th version of its world-leading Bottled Water Standard. The 1st…

This World Water Day (March 22) one of the questions you might ask yourself is ‘How do I ensure I only drink water bottled from sustainable sources?’ The answer would…

Bottled water is the fastest growing drink choice worldwide. In South Africa, bottled water (or packaged water, as it is referred to in the legislation) is regarded as a food…

Consumers seeking to make purchasing choices that benefit the environment should avoid products packaged with shrink labels. Similarly, producers and retailers of groceries and beverages wanting to boost their recycling…

The notion that drinking bottled water with a high mineral content – or total dissolved salts – will assist you attain your ‘recommended daily allowance’ is an old-fashioned one. So…

This National Recycling Day (Friday September 18) just say NO to packaging not designed to be recycled and send an important message to those brand and product owners who refuse…

1. According to BMi’s consumption figures of bottled water were growing at 2,3% in 2016. How has the arrival of Covid-19 impacted the demand for bottled water? Demand has decreased….

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) has endorsed Plastics SA’s view that only a behaviour change on the part of global citizens will have a significant impact on…

A new study from environmental think tank Green Alliance has shown that bottled water alternatives are not as green as they claim to be. The study examined if alternative forms…

South Africa’s polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle recycling achievements continue to impress, despite global market contractions and the closure of recycler, Mpact Polymers. This is the opinion of South African National…

Within just days of South Africa locking down, South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) members proved – once again – that they can be relied upon to step-in and…

With South Africa in lockdown and its citizens having to deal with uncertainty on many levels, it’s only natural that ‘myths’, ‘urban legends’ and ‘fake news’ stories abound. CEO of…

“Please, South Africa, this World Water Day, take a few minutes to remember just three things.” This is the plea from South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) CEO, Charlotte…

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) has praised Barbara Creecy’s decision to scrap the existing Section 28 plan for developing an Industry Waste Management Plan (IndWMP) for the…

In 2015, an American organisation helping companies and investors to achieve success by understanding environmental issues in business terms estimated that substituting plastic in consumer products and packaging with alternatives…

This December holidays, whether you are buying refreshments to take to the beach or on a hike, stocking up on your monthly groceries or on a shopping spree for the…

A study by Harris Poll has found that 93% of Americans prefer bottled water over all other beverages. And, while this is not an unexpected or new trend, the fact…

This World Clean Up Day (September 21) the numbers printed on colddrink and sauce bottles, margarine and yoghurt tubs, toothpaste tubes, deodorant sticks, buckets, dustpans, toys and the like don’t…

“Bottled water bottles do not contain BPA and therefore cannot leach BPA into the water they contain. On the contrary, bottled water bottles are made from PET, a food-grade plastic…

This World Oceans Day (Saturday June 8) the South African National Bottled Water Association is applauding the launch of the KZN Marine Waste Network – South Coast, which focuses on…

Citizens of the United States of America collectively saved 470 billion calories and 73 million pounds of recyclable PET plastic in 2018 by switching from packaged carbonated sugary drinks to…

Researchers from the International Marine Litter Research Unit at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom have published new research in Environmental Science and Technology showing that biodegradable bags can hold…

Looking for a water to use as a mixer with whiskey or brandy, or perhaps one to revitalise and refresh your palate? Now you can make an informed choice thanks…

PET bottles – those used to bottle many carbonated and sweetened cold drinks as well as water – are the key to purifying water in areas without access to regulated…

Late last year (December 13), The Wall Street Journal declared that the bottled water industry was facing a crisis, highlighting that “the consumer backlash against disposable plastic plus new government…

‘Consider the source of the facts, weigh up their reliability, and make a distinction between urban myth and professional opinion before pointing fingers this World Water Day’ is the even-keel…

Bottled water is the fastest growing drink choice worldwide. In South Africa, bottled water (or packaged water, as it is referred to in the legislation) is regarded as a food…

It is time to find truth and balance in the myriad calls for plastics to be replaced with alternatives or degradable versions. If we don’t, we risk setting policies, formulating…

Minerals are inorganic compounds, that is, compounds without carbon. The body cannot produce most minerals on its own but needs them for many bodily functions. It is therefore essential to…

In a few weeks, many South Africans will set off for their annual holiday. Sensible travelers will ensure their suitcases contain sun screens and hats to protect them and their…

South Africa’s bottled water industry, the third largest player in South Africa’s non-alcoholic beverage industry yet accounting for only 8.9% of the market, does not exacerbate the impact of the…

It is time to find truth and balance in the myriad calls for plastics to be replaced with alternatives or degradable versions. If we don’t, we risk setting policies, formulating…

It is time to find truth and balance in the myriad calls for plastics to be replaced with alternatives or degradable versions. If we don’t, we risk setting policies, formulating…

South Africa’s drought conditions have prompted the launch of a number of packaged drinking water ‘innovations’. Included among these are bench-top filtering and bottling systems that pre-fill sealed containers, and…

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) has applauded the response of ordinary South Africans to plastics recycling initiatives as the country’s recycling rate trounces that currently achieved in…

Recent figures released by the European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW) show that the global market for packaged water has grown at a faster rate than soft drinks, and will…

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) has welcomed the European Federation of Bottled Waters’ (EFBW) commitment to embracing the circular economy saying it will not only have a…

Bottled water is America’s most popular beverage category by volume. In recent years, sales of bottled water have surpassed those of carbonated soft drinks, and companies are increasingly seeking ways to add value to…

This Mother Earth Day (April 20), Capetonians are facing not one, but two, significant challenges – one in the spotlight for some time, that is, running out of water, and…

Understandably, droughts have a major impact on a nation’s emotional as well as social, economic and political well-being. This World Water Day (March 22), equip yourself with the facts, rather…

Comment from Charlotte Metcalf, executive director, South African National Bottled Water Association in response to http://www.fastmoving.co.za/news/supplier-news-17/sodastream-sa-calls-for-bottling-companies-to-reveal-water-sources-and-plans-in-cape-town-11357. “SodaStream South Africa’s Managing Director Francois Dippenaar’s finger pointing is disingenuous and seeks to…

Are bottled water bottlers in the Western Cape exacerbating the drought in that region? No, the activities of South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) members in the Western Cape…

The Cape Town Water Crisis Coalition’s call to ban local water bottling plants is ‘ill-conceived’, according to the South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA). Chief among SANBWA’s reasons is…

Holidaymakers in South Africa’s drought-stricken areas looking for a healthy, guilt-free alternative to the tap when it comes to slaking their thirst and staying hydrated should reach for the bottled…

SANBWA, the South African National Bottled Water Association, has welcomed a new Free State bottler to its fold, Di Bella Spring Water. Located just outside of Ladybrand on Veelroem Farm…

More than a quarter of the world’s population – about 2.1 billion people – lack access to clean water, according to a report released this month by the World Health Organisation and…

It’s time to stop ‘sustainability-shaming’ – you know, making those moralistic, judgey statements that imply that other people are somehow ‘less’ for doing ‘x’ – and acknowledge instead that sustainability…

A new study coming out of the United States has confirmed what companies involved in food and beverage packaging and recycling in South Africa have known for some time –…

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) has congratulated PETCO, the organisation responsible for fulfilling the South African PET plastic industry’s role of extended producer responsibility, on exceeding its…

The time to act against marine pollution is today, March 22 and World Water Day 2017; tomorrow will be too late. This is the opinion of South African National Bottled…

A media release issued by SodaStream as part of its marketing campaign is using incorrect and unsubstantiated information to scare consumers into investing in SodaStream’s carbonating machines. The release infers…

“Forget the soda! More Americans would rather quench their thirst with bottled water” was Fox News’ lead into a story coming from American late last week that had many wondering…

Comment with respect to: Greenpeace Marine Debris Campaign Targeting Plastic (March 14) Please quote: Charlotte Metcalf, executive director, South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) Photograph attached. SANBWA comment: ‘Pollution’…