The bottled water brands say they want to see a future where all packaging is made entirely from recycled or renewable materials (or both); are designed to be fully reusable or recyclable; and all packaging is recovered or recycled.
Action required​ In the UK, around 72% of soft drinks are packaged in plastic.
Plastic bottles are frequently chosen by soft drinks brands, thanks to its lightweight properties and subsequent carbon savings in transport, and due to its effectiveness in preventing breakages and food waste.
And yet one of the very qualities that makes plastic so attractive as a beverage packaging material – its durability – also means it does not break down if it ends up as litter in the environment.
With the UN declaring a ‘plastics crisis’, there is more public and political awareness and concern surrounding plastic waste than ever before.
“The bottled water and soft drinks value chain does not yet have all the answers, but through collaborative action, needs to invest in finding them.
The capabilities of existing technologies should not limit ambition.” ​ Research and development will play a role in this transformation, and so investment is needed in this sector, it says.
​ “Some of the aspirations in the vision may challenge existing business and delivery models.
It also recognises that while government and business are already starting to address the issue, there is still a need to set ambitious goals to push the sector and create a transformational shift to eliminate plastic packaging waste.”​ The full report can be found here.​​ How we get there: a plan to eliminate plastic packaging waste from UK bottled water and soft drinks value chain Vision: An efficient and circular resource management system​ 2025 goals: ​ Recycling collection rate of bottled water and soft drinks packaging to increase at least 90% Incentivised minimum requirement of at least 70% recycled content for plastic bottled water and soft drinks packaging Consistent nationwide recycling collection system enabled by increased and improved infrastructure Vision: Find the best packaging format​ 2025 goals:​ All bottled water and soft drink packaging made from 100% recyclable or reusable material resulting in non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle plastics being phased out All bottled water and soft drinks packaging made from feedstock that consists of at least 70% recycled material, to achieve incentivised minimum Industry standard for optimal zero plastic waste, identify low-impact bottled water and soft drinks packaging Vision: Shift in consumer behaviour and societal norms​ 2025 goals:​ Clear, consistent labelling systems for consumers New programme of evidence-based behaviour change campaigns Vision: Explore alternative delivery models​ 2025 goals:​ Explore refillable packaging and reduce the follow of packaging material to consumers Source: University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).
Towards sustainable packaging: A plan to eliminate plastic packaging waste from UK bottled water and soft drinks.​ Cambridge, UK: the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

In a circular issued on Friday, signed by BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad, owners and managers of these establishments were asked not only to stop using disposable cutlery but also to do away with bottled mineral water and instead install reverse osmosis (RO) water purifiers.
The BBMP notification came a day after the state government passed a similar order on Thursday, which said that no government department can use any form of plastic at any functions, seminars or conventions.
Read: No more plastic in Karnataka govt events: Kumaraswamy govt passes order The establishments were reminded that waste must also be segregated at source and composting units have to be set up on the premises.
BBMP Commissioner’s notice also reiterated the blanket ban passed by the government on plastic in March 2016.
It further said that all halls should have a plate bank of only steel, ceramic or melamine plates as well as a commercial dishwashing facility to reduce wastage of water.
According to NS Ramakanth of the Solid Waste Management Round Table, which works closely with the BBMP, such leaves take a long time to compost.
BBMP is already struggling to cope with the increasing amount of waste.
So, it makes sense to use a reusable form of cutlery.
Besides, plantain leaves or even areca nut leaves take much more time to compost,” he explained.
He added, “In addition to marriage halls, all resident welfare associations should also come together and form plate banks to reduce waste generation.”

Image Credit:Shutterstock/iamshutter Plastic water bottles are not only a blight on the environment, it turns out they’re bad for your health too.
Critics suggest this can make it harder to conceive and that its presences in children’s’ products – including feeding bottles – causes adverse effects in children.
Despite plastics undergoing rigorous testing to ensure they abide by legislation, the use of BPA has been banned in many countries, especially where used in children’s products, with many manufacturers replacing it with chemicals such as fluroene-9-bisphenol (BHBP).
Such studies do not accurately reflect human exposure, and as a result many bodies, including Cancer Research UK, state that there is no good scientific evidence that using plastic bottles or containers cause cancer, or other diseases.
However, the levels of BPA and other chemicals entering food and drink from containers are much lower than those considered safe.
Following a full scientific review into BPA in 2015, the EFSA concluded there was no health risk to people of any age including unborn children at current BPA exposure levels.
Early in 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a health review after microplastics in the form of plastic fibres were found in 93% of popular bottled water brands.
Research from the State University of New York in Fredonia analysed 259 bottles from 19 locations in nine countries and 11 different brands and found, in some instances, the levels of plastic fibres in bottled water were double those found in tap water in a previous study.
Analysis of the bottled water revealed an average of 10.4 microplastic particles larger than 100um per liter of water which was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopic analysis, and an average of 325 smaller particles sized 6.5-100um per liter.
A second, unrelated study analysed 19 bottles of water and found the presence plastic microfibres were widespread.

At a Sunday news conference, McMaster said “Presume that a major hurricane is going to hit South Carolina.
Be prepared.
The shelves of every Walmart in the Carolinas currently.
Get prepared.
#florence https://t.co/MReah5o2UM — (@fuzzlaw) September 9, 2018 Everyone in North and South Carolina needs to seriously start preparing for Florence.
— Alex (@TenguSnake) September 8, 2018 Related stories from The State in Columbia SC The Carolinas could start feeling Hurricane Florence’s fury as early as Wednesday night Florence could bring major inland flooding, and water kills more people than wind, experts say Prepare for ‘a strong hit’ from hurricane on South Carolina, governor urges That’s why so many people are heeding the warnings and leaving store shelves looking like they were not stocked.
The State reported Sunday that no bottled water was available at the Walmart on Killian Road.
pic.twitter.com/iJkFEuyD6x — Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) September 7, 2018 Water is gone at Moncks Corner, Walmart in South Carolina ahead of hurricane Florence #hurricaneFlorence #florence pic.twitter.com/rYF1xXWAYO — Derek Baker (@RobotSynergy) September 8, 2018 NO WATER: At the Walmart off Folly Rd #chsnews pic.twitter.com/FpC9BF9hnZ — Abbey O’Brien (@abbeyobrien) September 9, 2018 Goose Creek Walmart Marketplace is out of water but overheard from an employee they should be getting more within a few hours.
Low on some canned goods but plenty of supplies still available #HurricaneFlorence #SCEMD pic.twitter.com/LJe5wqTMcc — ️Vault 76 Overseer️ (@x1upGirl) September 9, 2018 water & bread shelves are completely empty in Walmart Wilmington Nc #HurricaneFlorence @laurynricketts pic.twitter.com/N4WXe90Ly6 — katie ricketts (@KatieRicketts_) September 9, 2018 For those of you that say, “I’ll start prepping for Florence later” … see the photos below from @Wral’s #SmartShopper this AM…
#HurricaneFlorence #FirstWarn3 https://t.co/o7aCE7HeV6 @WTKR3 pic.twitter.com/5jDaFOh185 — Anthony Sabella (@AnthonyWTKR) September 9, 2018 My wife went to Walmart this morning to buy extra water for the impending hurricane #Florence that won’t arrive until at least Friday and this is what she saw… #crazy.

SINGAPORE – A batch of the Guang Li Liang bottled drinking water has been recalled by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) after a common environmental bacteria was detected in the product.
In a statement on Saturday evening (Sept 8), the AVA said the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which can be found in faeces and sewage, was found in the water during routine sampling.
While consumption of products contaminated with this bacteria can cause a range of infections, it rarely causes illness in healthy individuals, AVA added.
The bacteria can multiply in water environments and also on the surface of suitable organic materials in contact with water.
The agency has ordered the importer, BSY Power of Light Trading, to recall the affected batch with the number 18228.
The expiry date for the affected products is displayed as either 040820, 260820, 290820.
The product is imported from Malaysia.
Consumers with queries can also contact the importer via phone on 9756-8786, or e-mail enquiries@bsytrading.com.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
Permission required for reproduction.

SINGAPORE: A brand of bottled drinking water imported from Malaysia has been recalled after a bacteria was found during a routine sampling of the product, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said on Saturday (Sep 8).
AVA said in a news release that pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common environmental bacteria that can be found in faeces, soil, water and sewage, was found in samples of Guang Li Liang bottled drinking water.
Advertisement The bacteria can multiply in water environments and also on the surface of suitable organic materials in contact with water.
Consuming products contaminated with this bacteria can cause a range of infections, although it rarely leads to serious illness in healthy individuals, AVA added.
The recall implicates batch number 18228 of Guang Li Liang bottled water with expiry dates of Aug 4, Aug 26 and Aug 29, 2020.
The batch number and expiry date are printed on the bottle.
The product was imported from Malaysia by BSY Power of Light Trading.
AVA has directed BSY to recall the implicated product, it said, adding that the recall is ongoing.
Advertisement "Consumers who have the implicated products are advised to not consume them.
For enquiries, consumers may call BSY at +65 9756 8786 or email enquiries@bsytrading.com.

Is the water we are drinking contaminated?
Uh Oh… What is going on?
We have found out that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has recalled the Guang Li Liang bottled drinking water which is produced in Malaysia as it has been found to contain a common environmental bacteria!
According to AVA, pseudomonas aeruginosa, the common environmental bacteria which was found in Guang Li Liang’s bottled drinking water is usually found in faeces.
soil, water and sewage.
Yikes, definitely sound pretty dangerous and disgusting too!
Even organic materials which are in contact with water make a good spot for this bacteria to grow.
Check the batch number and expiry date on the bottle The product was imported from Malaysia by BSY Power of Light Trading.
AVA has directed BSY to recall the implicated product.
If you had consumed products contaminated with this bacteria, there are chances it could lead to infections!

The Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Thousands of Detroit public schools students were told Tuesday to drink from district-supplied water coolers or bottled water on the first day of classes, after the drinking fountains were shut off because of contaminants in some water fixtures.
The discovery of contaminated water in Detroit’s schools follows a lead-tainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
Some children in the city were subsequently found to have elevated levels of lead in their blood, which can lead to developmental delays and other health problems.
"We’re still providing water that we believe is safer, and, ultimately, we actually believe students will drink more water than they did previously," Vitti said Tuesday at Gardner Elementary on Detroit’s west side.
But as parent Quala (KWAY’-luh) Bennett dropped two children off at Gardner Elementary Tuesday, she wondered why the district only recently began testing its water.
I don’t understand why now they’re checking the school system," Bennett said.
"They should have done that once the whole Flint thing happened."
Detroit Schools should not have waited until the start of the school year to alert parents about the water issues, said Rhonda Walton, whose grandson is a kindergartner at Gardner.
And those issues should have been corrected by today."
The American Federation of Teachers is providing the water and hand sanitizers.

DETROIT — About 50,000 Detroit public school students started the school year on Tuesday by drinking water from coolers, not fountains, after the discovery of elevated levels of lead or copper — the latest setback in a state already dealing with the consequences of contaminated tap water in Flint and other communities.
Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti expects the closure of water fountains and other drinking fixtures in all 106 schools to go smoothly because the district — Michigan’s largest — had previously turned off the tap in 18 schools.
“With the water coming from the water coolers, they just trust it more and are drinking it more.” Detroit is not the first major school district to switch to bottled water.
Now, look at the water here.
Vitti, who took over in Detroit in 2017 after the district had been under state management for years, said it is “preposterous” that schools are not forced to test for lead and that Detroit’s problems are reflective of inequities in urban America and a lack of spending on infrastructure.
“You can test the water coming into a building,” he said.
Water-quality issues have been identified at some water outlets in 34 Detroit schools.
Only eight states require lead-in-water testing in schools and Michigan is not among them.
Republican Gov.
Democratic-backed bills have not advanced in the GOP-led Legislature, but a hearing held in June indicates they could come up again.

SINGAPORE: A brand of bottled drinking water imported from Malaysia has been recalled after a bacteria was found during a routine sampling of the product, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said on Saturday (Sep 8).
AVA said in a news release that pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common environmental bacteria that can be found in faeces, soil, water and sewage, was found in samples of Guang Li Liang bottled drinking water.
Advertisement The bacteria can multiply in water environments and also on the surface of suitable organic materials in contact with water.
Consuming products contaminated with this bacteria can cause a range of infections, although it rarely leads to serious illness in healthy individuals, AVA added.
The recall implicates batch number 18228 of Guang Li Liang bottled water with expiry dates of Aug 4, Aug 26 and Aug 29, 2020.
The batch number and expiry date are printed on the bottle.
The product was imported from Malaysia by BSY Power of Light Trading.
AVA has directed BSY to recall the implicated product, it said, adding that the recall is ongoing.
Advertisement "Consumers who have the implicated products are advised to not consume them.
For enquiries, consumers may call BSY at +65 9756 8786 or email enquiries@bsytrading.com.