| Bottled Water Free Day gives mixed message |
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| Friday, 12 March 2010 12:35 |
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Leaves question whether to go bottle-free or get water free CBC News Bottled Water Free Day is being marked across Canada on Thursday, but one Toronto firm has put its own twist on the inaugural event. Whether it's a day to go free of bottled water or get free bottled water depends on who you talk to. "We wanted to put a focus on the wastefulness of bottled water," said Noah Stewart, national deputy chair of the Canadian Federation of Students, which organized the day along with the Polaris Institute and the Sierra Youth Coalition. "As institutions bring in more and more funding from Coke and Pepsi machines, they've stopped investing in water fountains," Stewart said in an interview with CBC News. But Toronto-area water firm Cedar Springs has launched its own counter campaign after it learned of the anti-bottled water message last Friday. Cedar Springs is giving away four free bottles of water when customers sign up for their delivery service in the Greater Toronto Area. "Our phones have been ringing off the hook. We're going to have to bring in extra staff," said Craig Hayhoe, vice-president of Cedar Springs Bottled Water. "Bottled water is a great healthy alternative to pop and other sugary drinks," said Hayhoe. "We feel that bottled water should be a choice you can make on your own." Both the anti and pro campaigns use the same wording: Bottled Water Free Day. They leave it up to the reader to decide what "free" refers to, and their websites are so similar as to be confusing. The anti-bottled water website is www.bottledwaterfreeday.ca. The pro-bottled water website is www.bottledwaterfreeday.com. Stewart said he wasn't aware of the counter-campaign. "It's a twist. I'll give you that," he said. Selling 500-ml bottles of water accounts for just one per cent of Cedar Springs business. The lion's share of their work is supplying the large refillable jugs that are delivered to homes and businesses. Bottled Water Free Day comes as sales of bottled water have begun to decline in North America after a decade of steady growth. Between 2003 and 2008, sales swelled 59 per cent in the U.S., making it one of the fastest growing beverages. Since then, sales have fallen by about two per cent. Two universities in Manitoba and one in Newfoundland and Labrador have banned the sale of bottled water on campus. Toronto's Ryerson University announced a similar ban Thursday. In 2008, Toronto city council voted to ban the sale of plastic water bottles on all municipal premises, including some of the city-owned golf courses by 2011. Other cities and some school boards are considering similar bans. |