Last updated on August 16th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC), has released 2011 bottled water statistics, compiled by BMC, a research, consulting and financial services firm dedicated to the global beverage industry. The new BMC data shows the overall consumption of bottled water has increased by 4.1 percent, building on 2010’s solid growth.
In 2011, total U.S. bottled water consumption increased to 9.1 billion gallons, up from 8.75 billion gallons in 2010. While all other major beverage categories such as carbonated soft drinks, milk and fruit beverages continue to suffer declines in consumption, bottled water rates head in the opposite direction. Per-capita consumption is up 3.2 percent in 2011, with every person in America now drinking an average of 29.2 gallons of bottled water last year.
According to Gary Hemphill, managing director of information services at BMC, “All signs point to U.S. consumers’ already displayed thirst for bottled water continuing in the years ahead. Changes in per capita consumption indicate persistent interest in a product that consumers embrace as a healthful alternative to other beverages.
“Indeed, bottled water added more gallons to its per-person consumption rate in 10 years than either ready-to-drink tea or sports beverages reached by the end of that period,” he added. “In fact, neither even reached 5 gallons per U.S. consumer by 2011. Bottled water proved itself to be not only a key component of the liquid refreshment beverage market; it also proved itself to be poised for future increases in per capita consumption.”
“People choose bottled water for a variety reasons,” said Chris Hogan, IBWA’s VP of communications. “Many consumers are focusing on healthful choices for themselves and their families, and they know that crisp, refreshing bottled water has zero calories and is the healthiest option on the shelf. They also appreciate the reliable, consistent quality of bottled water.”
Bottled water is a safe, healthy and convenient packaged food product, which is comprehensively regulated at both the federal and state levels; it is strictly regulated as a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). By mandate of federal law, the FDA regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water must be as stringent as the EPA regulations that govern tap water.
The bottled water industry also is utilizing a variety of measures to reduce its environmental footprint. All bottled water containers are 100 percent recyclable. Although bottled water makes up only 0.03 percent of the U.S. waste stream, according to the EPA, the bottled water industry works hard on a number of fronts with recycling advocates, communities and its beverage and food partners to increase recycling rates. In fact, between 2000 and 2008, bottled water companies reduced the weight of PET resin plastic single-serve bottles by 32 percent. That is the equivalent of removing one out of three bottled water containers from the waste stream.
The IBWA is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters. Founded in 1958, IBWA’s membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers.
