MAY 2019 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BOTTLED WATER ASSOCIATION
Make a Clear Choice SAFE DISTRIBUTION PRACTICES
CERTIFIED SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER SOURCE
OESN’T S D T I AY IF AUDITED ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
SEAL OF QUALITY, SAFETY AND AUTHENTICITY
AUDITED SANBWA BOTTLED WATER STANDARD
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ADHERENCE TO FOOD LEGISLATION
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TESTED FOR PURITY
ADHERENCE TO HYGIENIC FACTORY DESIGN AND OPERATION
P.O. Box 7649, Halfway House, 1685 South Africa | www.sanbwa.org.za | Tel: +27 11 884 5916 | Fax: +27 86 568 4862 | sanbwa@worldonline.co.za
Ripples & Waves
Chairman’s Address May 2019
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HE SOCIAL PUSHBACK over the extensive use of plastic is unrelenting, coupled to the cry-out that access to safe drinking water is a basic human right. In the middle of this mix is bottled water. This is a situation that we must live with for many years to come and counter with grace. We will continue to counter the drinking water issue with the argument that bottled water is a beverage and a beverage of choice for healthier living. No-one should have the power to deny us that choice. We will continue with a strong drive to recycle and reduce single-use plastics. Plastic is and will remain vital to modern living. Given these truths, I sometimes marvel at the irony it throws up. It’s ironic when we get a Beaufort West drought situation and an appeal goes out for donations of bottled water. The expectation is that bottlers who battle to make a few rands and a touch of profit are expected to hand over truckloads of bottled water. Our members do of course, but irony persists. At Beaufort West, we have a p-poor planning (PPP) situation. Plenty of groundwater is available, but money has been diverted away from building pipelines and wellfields. There is plenty of good quality groundwater available in the Karoo, it is just that the cost is high for building the needed infrastructure (and possibly the money has been spent elsewhere). Then we have National Geographic magazine. I have for many years been a subscriber and keen reader and have come across several articles around plastic and plastic pollution; water and drinking water. Bottled water in plastic is always a target and is always negatively described. If you go to National Geographic’s Green Guide you find ‘Why tap water is better than Bottled Water’.
WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is another organisation radically opposed to Bottled Water. If you go onto the website for their cruises however, most offer free bottles as a guest amenity. These include Nat Geo ‘Cloud Cruises’, Nat Geo ‘Orion Cruises’, Nat Geo ‘Scenic Cruises’ and Nat Geo & WWF ‘Azamara Cruises’. Puzzling that publicly they condemn bottled water, but realise how important it is that their guests do not suffer gastro-guts, and thus hand out bottled water. Definitely a touch of double standards. Yours in quality John Weaver
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#BudgetSpeech 2019: Tax on single-use plastics, not the answer The following statement was issued by the executive director of Plastics|SA, Anton Hanekom, just after finance minister Tito Mboweni’s Budget Speech in Anton Hanekom Parliament earlier this year. Plastics|SA notes the commitment in the Budget Review to reform existing environmental taxes. We believe this is an opportunity to assess, which taxes are achieving their environmental objectives and the impact they are having on the economy and jobs. The plastic bag levy, for example, has had little impact on consumer behaviour and has not delivered the environmental gains it was intended to. The Department of Environmental Affairs acknowledged to Parliament that consumers have continued to use plastic bags, despite the plastic bag levy quadrupling between 2003 and 2018. The truth is that the plastic bag levy has done little for the environment. It is just another revenue stream for the government and is not even ring fenced for recycling. More could have been done if the money was used for the intended purpose - we would have been able to achieve more in terms of recycling. We also note that the government will be investigating a tax on single-use plastics, including straws, beverage cups and lids, and containers to curb their use and encourage recycling. The plastics industry fully supports efforts to stop plastic waste polluting the environment. We believe it is high time that the government starts confronting this issue head-on. It is simply unacceptable that more than eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the world’s oceans every year. People want to recycle and do the responsible thing but there is simply not sufficient serviced waste management infrastructure in place. While a tax on single-use plastics might satisfy an emotional impulse, it is not the answer. A tax on single-use plastics will do little to change behaviour, and it won’t stop plastic pollution. All a tax will do is drive up inflation, and put pressure on an industry that employs over 60 000 people. We need to work towards developing innovative environmentally sound products. Instead of taxing the industry and the consumer, the government needs to work with us to develop these alternatives. Plastics|SA is determined to find the answer to problematic plastic usage. We are developing a workable plan to deal with single-use plastics aligned to international initiatives that takes into account our environmental, socio-political and economic realities. We look forward to working with all roleplayers in the industry, as well as government and civil society, to find a genuine solution to plastic pollution.
Ripples & Waves #World Water Day: Consider validity and source of facts before pointing fingers
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ONSIDER 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.’ This was the evenkeel request from Charlotte Metcalf, CEO of the South African National Bottled Water Association (Sanbwa). Metcalf doesn’t dispute the fact that many people in South Africa and in other countries around the world lack access to safe water. She stressed that, if we do not actively set out to ensure our decisionmaking processes are well-informed, we risk setting policies, formulating regulations, enacting legislation and investing in technologies that will do more harm than good. During the Day Zero period in Cape Town for instance, many laid the blame for the drought at bottlers of bottled water and called for the industry to be banned, or put under state control. Their calls ignored the fact that the bottled water market accounts for just 543.7 million litres a year (which was equivalent to the City of Cape Town’s daily target under Day Zero conditions) versus the 5 668.7billion litre a year fizzy drink, iced teas and energy drink market1. Furthermore: • Water sources of Sanbwa members nationwide (90 per cent of which are bottled from underground sources, that is, groundwater as opposed to surface water) must be audited to ensure long-term sustainability prior to membership being granted. • Groundwater is strongly buffered against drought influence. Recharge, or aquifer renewal, is replenished at between five and 20 per cent a year depending on the underlying geology and topography. • No water from any of these groundwater sources would naturally enter the municipal system via rivers and dams. Bottled water originates from sources licenced to private entities by the Department of Water & Sanitation specifically for the use of the water for commercial purposes (bottling water). The volumes extracted are monitored against the licensed limit. By contrast, many of the systems mooted as alternatives to bottled water could exacerbate drought. These could include: • Shop-floor systems that use a combination of filters and/or ozone to purify tap water, which is then packaged in shop-branded bottles (bottled water) or re-filled into consumers’ containers (drinking water). • Small retail outlets using a combination of filters and/or ozone to purify tap water, which is then
packaged in shop-branded bottles (bottled water) or refilled into consumers’ containers (drinking water). • Counter-top filtration units used by restaurants, caterers and hotels, and linked to taps; the water is bottled in reusable glass bottles and often closed with a Grolsch-type cap. • Bottling companies or individuals starting up in response to the drought, but do not adhere to South Africa’s legislation governing the bottled water industry could be bottling from unlicensed, unprotected and unsustainable sources. Environmental surveys to ensure source sustainability, the construction of a hygienic bottling facility etc. cost far more than people factor into the price. Therefore, if the bottled product is cheap, chances are the source is not what it is claimed to be, or the production facilities are not what they should be. ‘It is a fallacy that bottled water is a waste of South Africa’s scarce water resources, and critically Notes: 1. BMi Research – 2017 2. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - Sustainable Development Goal 6: • 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all • 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations • 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally • 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity • 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through
reduces the amount of municipal water available for the country’s citizens. The arguments that refute the accuracy of this claim not only include the relative sizes of the packaged beverage industry in the Charlotte Metcalf country, they include the fact that bottled water production is a very low water use business versus other beverages3 , and is a very low water use business versus other food industries4,’ Metcalf explains. ‘This year’s theme for World Water Day (March 22), ‘Leaving no one behind’, adopted the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development2 that, as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit. Sanbwa wholeheartedly supports this agenda, and does not accept bottlers whose sources are not sustainable and well-managed as members,’ she said. transboundary cooperation as appropriate • 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes • 6.A: By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies • 6.B: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. 3. Bier http://www.bieroundtable.com/bier-presentscarbon-footprint.html, which compares the impact of bottled water when compared to tap water and other beverages globally, it can be seen that – compared to other beverages – water has a very low water use figure. (http://beveragelcafootprint. com/?page_id=102/) 4. https://www.statista.com/chart/9483/how-thirsty-isour-food/
MEMBER NEWS: #Thirsti The end of 2018 saw the launch of Thirsti’s exciting new Infusions range. Infusions represent people who want to live life to the fullest – free from constraints and inhibitions. That is why the #iLiveFree campaign took the form of an exciting roadtrip around South Africa allowing thousands of people to sample the new Infusions flavours: Cucumber Lime, Berry, Litchi, Apple, Naartjie and Watermelon. Backed up
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by an online campaign, people got to experience how this new water is not only delicious, but free from the artificial ‘nasties’ like preservatives and no artificial sweeteners. A lot of ‘fan love’ was generated during this campaign and people took to social media to post about Infusions. The likes of Kyle Deutch, Ms Cosmo and Jane Linley Thomas joined in as well, by showing their love for the brand on their own platforms. The associated Live Free Competition was a great success, and great numbers of people shared with Thirsti their unique perceptions of ‘living free.’ The R50 000 prize was well-deserved by a young lady with great singing aspirations.
Ripples & Waves #WaterWheel:
MEMBER NEWS
Organoleptic characteristics of bottled waters in South Africa – What do the bottled waters we drink taste of?
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#aQuelle: Joy has a new look F
or the past 20 years, aQuellé has been spreading joy and now, just like water refreshes and revitalises, it has revitalised its form while retaining its essence of Real Joy. Its new logo and packaging have aspects of contemporary design and vibrant colours. The new look is making its way into stores across South Africa and made a splash at the 2019 aQuellé Midmar Mile, an event which brings friends and family together and contributes significantly to various charities. According to aQuelle, the new look launches it into an exciting new era, making every joyful moment brighter while enjoying the original taste of joy!
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ottled water (referred to as ‘packaged’ water by South African legislation) is appreciated not only as a calorie-free, healthy alternative to other packaged non-alcoholic beverages, but as a versatile companion to fine dishes, wine, coffee, brandies and whiskeys, etc. Depending on the mineral composition of the bottled water, as well as the presence or absence of bubbles, it can highlight and even enhance taste nuances. The South African National Bottled Water Association (Sanbwa) collaborated with the Sommeliers Association of South Africa (Sasa) and the South African Chefs Association (Saca) to explore the organoleptic characteristics of bottled waters available in South Africa. The intention is to provide a guide – not a set of rules – about which waters could satisfy certain culinary requirements. Bouquet is the word used by beverage tasters when referring to the nose or smell of a beverage, while palate refers to the taste or flavour. In general, the panel confirmed that waters bottled from sources in South Africa have a neutral bouquet and palate. Imported waters found in this country, too, are mostly neutral with respect to smells and flavours. The word mouthfeel refers to how a beverage feels in the mouth, mostly because of the interaction between texture and weight, and can vary between still and carbonated versions of water from the same source. Mouthfeel is where the tasting panel found considerable differences between South Africa’s bottled waters. The Water Wheel illustrates the characteristics of Sanbwa members’ waters as well as the best-selling imported waters (for comparison).
Ripples & Waves
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Ripples & Waves
# Sodis: PET bottles and sunlight key to sanitising water P ET BOTTLES ARE the key to sanitising water in areas without access to regulated water reticulations systems, or those where the system is unreliable or disrupted by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones or conflict. This is the clear message from WHO consultant Andy Hart in a documentary called ‘Drops of Sun’. (www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-CzUx0_Igg0&feature=related). The technique has been tested and recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as the CSIR and used by South African National Bottled Water Association (Sanbwa) chairman, John Weaver, on his regular trips into areas where taps are not a common sight. The technique is referred to as Sodis, or solar disinfection. The UV-A rays in sunlight kill germs such as viruses, bacteria and parasites (giardia and cryptosporidia). The method also works when air and water temperatures are low. People can use the Sodis method to treat their drinking water themselves. The method is very simple and its application is safe. There are still those who believe that PET bottles leach chemicals or toxic components into the water, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. ‘Perhaps these misinformed people will take note of more recent research, coming from the Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research,’ suggests Sanbwa executive director, Charlotte Metcalf. ‘This organisation examined the diffusion of adipates and phthalates (DEHA and DEHP) from new and reused PET bottles in the water during solar exposure.’ According to Metcalf, the levels of concentrations found in the water after a solar exposure of 17 hours in 60°C (140°F) water were far below WHO guidelines for drinking water and in the same magnitude as the concentrations of phthalate and adipate generally found in high-quality tap water. ‘There’s also been concerns voiced recently about the use of PET bottles in this manner following a report from researchers at the University of Heidelberg who had looked at the release of antimony from PET bottles stored over several months in supermarkets. ‘The antimony concentrations found in the bottles were orders of magnitude below WHO and national guidelines for antimony concentrations in drinking water. Using clear PET bottles and Africa’s abundant sunlight is a cheap, easy and effective way to make certain water is drinkable. ‘Those who incorrectly malign PET’s chemical properties should rather focus their energy on convincing those who consume beverages from this packaging format to recycle, as that’s the more urgent concern,’ she notes.
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MEMBER NEWS
#Chamonix: A description of the waters from Sanbwa’s newest member. The secret behind the high quality of Chamonix spring water is its location, high in the Franschhoek Mountains. Here, far from pollution sources and contaminants, it harnesses the purity of the underground springs that run through these hills. Three bottling and processing facilities ensure that it is able to meet the demand for Chamonix from retailers, restaurants – indeed, anyone with an appreciation for purity and quality. At Chamonix, hygiene and cleaning procedures are monitored daily, quality control is done every 30 minutes off the line. Kosher and Halaal approved, Chamonix is also FSSC 22000 certified. It achieved a best in class status on its most recent hygiene audit conducted by one of its major customers. A concern for purity runs through Chamonix’s daily operations, and into every single bottle of Chamonix natural spring water.
Ripples & Waves MEMBER NEWS
#ThirstiSharks:
A winning combination Thirsti has teamed up with the Sharks as the team’s official hydration partner, an alignment that matches the Thirsti ethos with the Sharks’ own. Thirsti has made its mark in South Africa as a brand that applauds people who fearlessly pursue their passions and dreams, within the context of a healthy and dynamic lifestyle. The Sharks are an embodiment of these values as their globally recognised brand extends beyond the world of rugby into every facet of life from entertainment to fashion. With two dynamic brands committed to empowering people to be the best version of themselves, this will undoubtedly partnership. 1.pdfbe a1 powerful 2018/05/10 16:49
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Ripples & Waves
SANBWA Member Update
Name • Address • Telephone • Facsimile • Contact Person Members Affiliate members aQuellé Private Bag 260, Kranskop, 3268 • 032 481 5005 • 032 481 5006 • Ruth Combrink
Alpla Trading SA (Pty) Ltd PO Box 4451, The Reeds, 0158 • 012 657 8683 • Kieron Johnstone
Bené PO Box 1098, Walkerville, 1876 • 082 881 9860 • 078 644 7780 • Wendy Anderson
End In Mind Consultative Solutions Africa (Pty) Ltd Postnet Suite 1, Private Bag X75, Bryanston, 2021 • 011 513 3415 • Shawn Henning – Director
Bonaqua – Coca-Cola South Africa PO Box 9999, Johannesburg, 2000 • 086 011 2526 • 011 644 0586 • Kamini Redhi
Extrupet (Pty) Ltd PO Box 14112, Wadeville, 1422 • 011 865 8380 • Fax 011 865 4254 • Harry Havenga – National Sales & Marketing Manager
Cape Aqua Minerale P.O. Box 234, Somerset Mall, 7137 • 021 854 6477 • Richard Whitehead
Fontana Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd 150 Maclean Street, Umkomaas, 4170 • 039 973 2690 • Cameron Buys – Sales Manager
Clover Waters: Nestlé Pure Life PO Box 6161, Weltevreden Park, 1715 • 011 471 1400 • Bradwin Bosman
Krones Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Private Bag X 42, Bryanston, 2021 • 011 065 5700 • 086 522 6176 • Des Haddon – Sales & Marketing Manager
Di Bella Spring Water PO Box 1516, Ladybrand, 9745 • 082 862 0752 • Maurizio Di Bella
MPACT Plastics Wadeville P O Box 14093, Wadeville, 1422 • 011 418 6061 • 086 574 6481 • Mayuri Naidoo – National Sales Manager
Durr Bottling: Aquabella, Fontein PO Box 502, S-Paarl, 7624 • 021 863 3485 • 021 863 0590 • Leslee Durr
Nampak Closures PO Box 69983, Bryanston, 2021 • 011 719 6300 • Clinton Farndell – Divisional Director
La Vie De Luc PO Box 15, Franschhoek, 7690 • 021 876 2559 • 021 876 2652 • Christian Von Palace
NSF-CMi Africa PO Box 12900, Die Boord, 7613 • 021 880 2024 • 021 880 2840 • Wouter Conradie – General Manager
Libstar Chamonix Spring Water (Pty) Ltd (a Division of Libstar Operations Proprietary Limited) Postnet Suite No 40, Private Bag X19, Franschhoek, 7690 • 021 876 3736 • Tanya Smith
PET Recycling Company NPC t/a PETCO P.O. Box 680, Constantia, 7848 • 021 794 6300 (Cpt) • 011 615 8875 (Jhb) • Cheri Scholtz – Chief Executive Officer
Oryx Aqua PO Box 474, Naboomspruit, 0560 • 014 743 2421 • Berend van den Berg Pioneer Foods (Pty) Ltd PO Box 177, Ceres, 6835 • 023 313 3701 • 023 313 3410 • Paul Collingridge
Polypet (Division of Polyoak Packaging) PO Box 125, Plumstead, 7801 • 021 710 9200 • 021 712 1342 • Wessel Oelofse – National Executive: Polypet
Thirsti Water P.O. Box 13559, Cascades, 3202 • 034 314 9801 • Rob Hoatson
Radical Waters PO Box 6482, Halfway House, 1685 • 011 466 0610 •Nicky Wilson – Executive Vice President Marketing & Operations
Valpré – Coca-Cola South Africa PO Box 9999, Johannesburg, 2000 • 011 644 0666 • 011 644 0586 • Kamini Redhi
All correspondence and enquiries should be addressed to Charlotte Metcalf at: SANBWA, PO Box 7649, Halfway House, 1685 Telephone: (011) 884 5916
Facsimile: 086 568 4862
Email: sanbwa@worldonline.co.za
Visit us on our website: www.sanbwa.org.za
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