By 2010 we are committed to reducing the amount of packaging we use to make our products by at least 20%, and to reducing manufacturing waste at our Fiji bottling facility by 33%. And, because quality matters as much as quantity, we are also looking at ways to significantly increase our use of recycled resin, board and other raw materials.

We bottle all of our remarkable water in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) because we believe it is the most responsible environmental choice. Liter for liter, PET bottles require 24% less energy to produce, generate 40% less solid waste, and emit 46% less carbon during shipping than glass bottles.1, 2

While we have considered corn-based plastics, we believe they are not a truly sustainable solution. They are likely to require the conversion of large tracts of land to agricultural usage, with profoundly detrimental impacts on those tracts' ecosystems. Large-scale use of corn-based plastics would also cause food prices to rise further, with the greatest burden falling on those least able to afford it. Even now, demand for corn-based ethanol is making food more costly, as the increasing scarcity of corn makes it more expensive to use as an ingredient in food products and as feed for livestock.

And, compared to other plastics, PET is easily recyclable and has many uses. The demand for recycled PET is extremely high due to its use as a replacement for polyester, which can be used in carpeting, clothing material and textile products such as “polar fleece.” Some companies turn PET into fiberfill for sleeping bags, toys and jackets.

We are looking into programs that promote recycling in the U.S. and in other markets. For example, in the U.S. a combined system of curbside recycling and container deposits gives consumers two opportunities to recycle. That is why FIJI Water sees an active role for itself in advocating for legislation that will boost overall recycling rates via expanded curbside recycling programs and container deposit laws that include bottled water and other non-carbonated beverages.