It is very interesting to highlight  the social commitment of FIJI Water. It has done a lot of research to disclose the carbon footprint of its products. They’ve joined the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration, and launched a new website at Fijigreen.com in support of their efforts to become carbon negative. Following the notion that measurement is the first key step to managing emissions, a bottled water company is branding itself green!

Fiji water’s is reducing its amount of carbon in the atmosphere by cutting emissions across the products entire life cycle. Efforts are made also to invest in forest carbon and renewable energy projects to reach the carbon negative. When measuring the water’s carbon footprint Fiji count emissions for everything it takes to get it into the consumer’s hands — starting at production of our raw materials and all the way through consumption. “Although it is optional for companies to report emissions from steps outside their control, we consider it necessary so that you can understand the true environmental impact of the products you use.” (2008 Report: http://www.fijigreen.com/assuranceReport.pdf)

Measuring FIJI water’s carbon footprint showed at the company how to best reduce it, for example by using less packaging materials, incorporate more recycled materials, use less energy at the bottling facility, use more carbon-efficient transportation.

Packaging:

The Company declares that will reduce the amount of packaging they use to make the products they sell by 20% and increase the use of recycled materials. They also claim to reduce manufacturing waste at the Fiji bottling facility by 33%. They have started experiments like the production of lighter bottles, the result of the reduction of bottle weight will be measurable next year. The cardboard cartons are containing already about 55% of recycled content, the objective is to improve the percentage.

Bottling:

The Company declares that by 2010 they will supply at least 50% of the energy for the bottling facility and company-owned vehicles from renewable sources, and wind is the most viable renewable energy source for their bottling facility. Talking about renewable energy FIJI Water is making the bottling facility more energy efficient so that each bottle requires less energy to produce.

Transportation:

The Company is actually optimizing the logistics to keep the product on container for more of the distance to market. They assert that of the principal transport modes – ocean, air and rail – ocean freight is the most fuel-efficient and produces the fewest emissions per ton carried and distance traveled. For example to send FIJI water to New York City while the route to Panama Canal takes about three times long to get to destination, it results in 55% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Recycling Efforts:

The Company invites to help by recycling the packaging, reducing the carbon footprint of the bottle by 25%.

“One ton of recycled plastic saves 5,774 kWh of electricity and 685 gallons of oil (U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming). But all bottled water (not just FIJI Water) comprises only 0.33% of U.S. municipal solid waste (Sustainable Life Media, October 2007).

So, please remember to recycle all eligible materials, not just FIJI Water bottles and other beverage containers. For example, cardboard is recyclable too — one ton of recycled cardboard saves 17 trees and 9 cubic yards of landfill space (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Please call your city and state officials if you do not have access to curbside recycling. To express your support for container deposit legislation, you can find and contact your federal, state and local officials at Congress.org.”

(Source: http://www.fijigreen.com/HowYouCanHelp.html)

The Company also says that:

“There has been much debate about the use of petroleum in the making of plastic water bottles. Our environmental impact is minimal, however, particularly compared to that of other industries. More importantly, it is constantly improving. First, FIJI Water is bottled in 100 percent recyclable containers. As an industry, making plastic water bottles accounts for a miniscule 0.02 percent of America’s oil consumption, and plastic water bottles contribute only one-third of 1 percent to the municipal waste stream. Nonetheless, FIJI Water has always been an industry leader in environmental stewardship, and we are constantly working to improve our environmental footprint. We are committed to reducing the material in our packaging by 20% by 2010, becoming more energy efficient, and improving recycling rates in the U.S. and all of our key markets.”

(Source: http://www.fijigreen.com)

While other comments on the number one of imported bottles:

“FIJI® Water is natural artesian water bottled at the source in Viti Levu (Fiji islands) since 1996. Roll International acquired FIJI Water in 2004 and has since tripled the business, making it the No. 1 imported bottled water brand in the United States.

With more than 500 employees in 11 countries, FIJI Water became the nation of Fiji’s leading exporter in 2008, and its operations are vital to Fiji’s economic development. More than 300 Fijians are employed at the plant in Yaqara, holding some of the highest-paying manufacturing jobs in the country.

FIJI Water is committed to quality and excellence in its product, people, profitability and strategic partners. The company is also dedicated to communicating the passion and unique properties of its brand to consumers worldwide.”

(Source: http://www.roll.com/fiji-water.php)

FIJI Water used the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol (http://www.ghgprotocol.org/) to measure the carbon footprint. ICF International (http://www.icfi.com/), a global leader in analyzing emissions inventories and providing advice on climate strategy, has independently reviewed and verified the carbon footprint.