True North Client Meets with Conservation Minister of Manitoba!

  

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Congrats to one of our clients, SodaStream, which held a productive meetings in Canada today with Bill Blaikie, the Conservation Minister of Manitoba, to commend Manitoba’s efforts to protect the environment and eliminate the use of plastic bottles. The new policy bans the use of provincial funds to buy single-use bottled water in plastic containers with less than one litre of water when tap water that is safe for drinking is reasonably accessible.

This policy does, however, include an exception when safe drinking water is not available. Manitoba is the second Canadian province, after Nova Scotia, to take action on controlling the proliferation of plastic bottles and on promoting public water systems.

Blaikie made the announcement on June 7^th,  making clear that the government wants to demonstrate leadership when it comes to environmental sustainability.

"We believe by taking this step we are leading by example and encouraging Manitobans to move away from using single-use bottled water," said Blaikie. "This also acknowledges the importance of Manitoba Sustainable Development Procurement Guidelines that clearly states purchases must be based on careful consideration of the good's impact on the environment.”

Over the past five years, the government has spent an estimated $700,000 on the purchase of bottled water. This new policy immediately won the praise of ecologists, stating that the production, transportation, and recycling of single-use water bottles wastes energy and produces unnecessary carbon emissions.

Efforts have been made to promote tap water and restrict the purchase and sales of bottled water by two provinces, eighty-five municipalities, thirteen campuses, and seven school boards nation-wide, who have passed similar resolutions.

SodaStream Canada, which is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, shares in Manitoba’s desire to have a positive impact on the environment and to create a world free from bottles and cans.  SodaStream Canada is prepared to help take this initiative one step further by donating carbonation machines to provincial offices within Manitoba. Each SodaStream reusable carbonating bottle is estimated to save the environment from 2,000 bottles and cans each year.

By using water straight from the tap to create healthy carbonated, flavoured beverages, SodaStream Canada is making traditional store-bought beverage bottles obsolete. This results in less plastic manufactured, less plastic waste in our landfills, and less fuel burned as a result of the need to transport all of these bottled and canned beverages.

Thanks to the implementation of Manitoba’s new policy, in addition to efforts by dedicated communities striving to better the world for our children, the tide has turned for the bottled water industry.

About SodaStream

SodaStream Canada manufactures home beverage carbonation systems, which enable consumers to easily instantly transform ordinary tap water into carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water.  SodaStream soda makers offer a highly differentiated and innovative solution to consumers of bottled and canned carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water.  Their products promote health and wellness and are environmentally friendly, cost effective, customizable and fun to use. 

In addition, their products offer convenience by eliminating the need to carry bottles home from the supermarket, to store these bottles at home and to regularly dispose of the empty bottles.  There is estimated to be approximately 4 million consumers who are regularly creating carbonated beverages using the SodaStream system. SodaStream products are available in more than 40,000 retail stores, in 39 countries around the world.