A Crisis in France -- Bottled water may not be what it's advertised to be

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the environmental and ethical implications of the bottled mineral water industry in France, particularly in light of climate change and recent controversies surrounding water sourcing and filtration practices. Participants explore the broader societal impacts of marketing and industrialization within this context.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern over the environmental impact of the mineral water industry, particularly regarding the use of illicit filtration systems and the implications for brands like Perrier.
  • Others argue that the marketing of mineral water creates an artificial value that allows companies to charge significantly higher prices compared to tap water, which is generally safe and of good quality in France.
  • One participant reflects on the industrialization process, suggesting that the cost of materials is low compared to the expertise required for product development and marketing.
  • A participant draws parallels to broader corporate practices, referencing controversies surrounding Nestlé and highlighting various ethical issues associated with large corporations in the food and beverage industry.
  • Several comments emphasize the disparity between the quality of the product and the marketing efforts, suggesting that the focus on branding can overshadow the actual quality of the product.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the ethics and environmental impact of the bottled water industry, with no clear consensus reached. Some agree on the problematic nature of marketing and industrial practices, while others focus on specific ethical concerns related to corporations like Nestlé.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various ethical and environmental issues without resolving the complexities involved, including the implications of climate change on water sourcing and the marketing strategies employed by bottled water companies.

jedishrfu
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In a BBC article:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvn3qe0jpgo

France's multi-billion euro mineral water companies are under the spotlight because of climate change and growing concerns about the industry's environmental impact.
At issue is whether some world-famous brands, notably the iconic Perrier label, can even continue calling themselves "natural mineral water".
A decision in the Perrier case is due in the coming months. It follows revelations in the French media about illicit filtration systems that have been widely used in the industry, apparently because of worries about water contamination, after years of drought linked to climate change.
 
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My issue with the whole mineral water industry is not that they filter or disinfect water. It is the whole artificial mystery around 'mineral water' what allows the selling of drinking water at thousandfold price, with quite the associated environmental footprint.

As far as I know, tap water in France is generally safe to drink and is good quality.
 
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It’s the way of industrialization: materials cost peanuts compared to expertise to design, build, test and market the product.
 
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Sorry to laugh, but this strikes me as a very first world problem.
It also reminds me of when Nestle tried to get water rights in a tiny town in my state as a source of "well water".
In order to get my facts straight, I Googled and found the wiki article titled; "Controversies of Nestlé".
Wow....

  • forced labour
  • modern slavery
  • child labour
  • incidents of contaminated and infested food products
  • preventing access to non-bottled water in impoverished countries
  • issues around animal welfare commitments
  • actively spreading disinformation about recycling
  • illegal water-pumping from drought-stricken Native American reservations
  • price fixing
  • extensive union-busting activity
  • deforestation
  • lobbying to support misinformation about infant and women's nutrition.

A veritable laundry list of crimes by BIG CHOCOLATE!
 
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As a friend of mine said, "you spend 10% of your time brewing the best beer you can and 90% on telling people how good it is."
 
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Hornbein said:
As a friend of mine said, "you spend 10% of your time brewing the best beer you can and 90% on telling people how good it is."
Or, you make rubbish beer, and tell people it's the best.