Some 96% of visitors responding to questions from purified water company Eau de Vie at the Hotelympia trade show said the hospitality industry should be doing more to improve the presentation of table water and solve the single-use plastic bottle crisis.
Furthermore, 75% are very concerned about the possibility of contamination due to plastic leaching into the water, with 94% stating they would prefer to be offered freshly purified water in an establishment’s own reusable glass bottles.
The survey followed a recent study led by journalist organisation Orb Media and undertaken by the University of New York, covering bottles bought in nine countries. Tests on major brands of plastic bottled water found that nearly all of them contained tiny particles of plastic, with an average of 10 plastic particles per litre, each larger than the width of a human hair.
Adam Lenton, marketing manager for Eau de Vie, says: “Understanding the potential implications of this study remains an active area of science in terms of long term effect on health, but already, we can see that consumers are increasingly concerned about the plastic issue – not just relating to waste but also waking up to the potential harmful aspects of digesting small amounts of plastic.”
A spokesperson for Foodservice Packaging Association commented: “Seventy five percent of bottles used for beverages are currently recycled in the U.K. Of course we all wish to see more recycled. The U.K. Hospitality sector has a big part to play in encouraging its customers not to litter and to dispose of bottles in the correct way. Messaging on premises is very important and ensuring any plastic bottles left in store are placed in the correct bin to ensure they will be recycled.
“The plastic bottle works well for beverages particularly from the perspective of safety and the reduced carbon footprint versus other materials. Decisions on packaging choice must therefore take all factors into consideration.
“In promoting the provision of free water for customer bottle refill we should be respectful of smaller, independent operators who may be adversely affected by increased water bills and the loss of a profit stream. As always when promoting a positive action such as this there is always the risk of unintended and unforeseen consequences.”