Water Quality and Regulation

Water quality and regulation

In some places around the world people lack access to safe drinking water. Even in parts of North America there are concerns about the quality of some local water supplies and potential contaminants. We believe people should have access to safe drinking water and we support policies that strengthen public water systems.

The regulatory standards for bottled water are at least the same as for tap water. In two critical cases for water quality – lead and bacteria in drinking water – bottled water has significantly stricter regulatory limits. Click here to learn more about these regulations.

Quality reporting and disclosure

Target 3:

Add language to labels about how to access our water quality reports (2011)

We strive to maintain the trust consumers have in our products by using the latest science and technology in our quality control and safety processes, beginning with source selection through bottling. Throughout our production process, approximately 2,000 water samples are tested each day, which, gallon for gallon, is more than 60 times more frequently than most municipal water suppliers. Our bottling plants undergo independent annual inspections and these facilities are also subject to both state and federal regulations.

Click here to learn more about our quality processes.

We now require our suppliers to provide a certificate of compliance with our internal quality standards and by 2010 all our plants had achieved the OSHAS 18001 and Food Safety Certification 22001. Click here to learn more about the goals we set in 2008.

We have identified water sources on our bottle labels and/or online for years and, since 2005, have made quality reports publicly available for all of our bottled water brands. These reports are comparable to those published by public water utilities and are based on independent testing results from certified laboratories. Consumers can access this information via phone or our website, both of which are listed on our product labels or caps. Click here to learn more about the goal we set in 2008 on source labeling.

In 2010, we posted on our corporate and brand websites important storage and "best by" information for consumers to maintain the high quality of our products. Click here to learn more about the goal we set in 2008 for providing storage and "best by" information.

To ensure consumers know how to access our water quality reports, by the end of 2011, we will include messaging on product labels (with the exception of our three- and five-gallon containers) directing consumers to our website or a phone number to call for quality information. Our three- and five-gallon products, which currently provide a toll-free phone number on every cap, will follow this practice in the future.

Advocating for transparency

Target 4:

Continue to advocate for federal standards on public disclosure of source, quality, and process reporting for bottled water (2011)

Letter From Our CEO

Dear Stakeholders,

Beginning in 1976, when our company first introduced Americans to bottled water through the Perrier^® brand, we have grown to be the largest bottled water company in the U.S. and Canada, with 15 unique brands, 28 facilities, and 7,500 employees. We built our company on the premise that success lies in being a responsible leader by creating value for consumers, communities, employees, and other key stakeholders.

Creating Shared Value

At Nestlé, we describe this as Creating Shared Value – a fundamental part of our way of doing business. I believe this report reflects how we go beyond incremental steps and think bigger about ways we can be a strong advocate for water, minimize our environmental impact, and make a positive impact on our communities.

Transparency and Collaboration

We continually seek ways to improve how we operate, as well as how we engage with – and learn from – our neighbors and stakeholders. Reporting on our sustainability and corporate citizenship is one avenue, which we will continue doing every two years. Equally important is collaboration with others to create 21st-century solutions to address the broader societal issues, especially improved recycling in North America.

The Road Ahead

I invite you to review this website to learn more about what the road ahead entails.

On behalf of everyone at Nestlé Waters North America, thank you for your interest in our company.

Sincerely,

Kim Jeffery
President and Chief Executive Officer
Nestlé Waters North America

Progress on 2008 Goals

About This Report

The Nestlé Waters North America 2010 Citizenship Report

Creating Shared Value

Nestlé Waters North America is part of the Nestlé Company. At Nestlé, Creating Shared Value is a fundamental part of our way of doing business that focuses on specific areas of the company's core business activities – namely water, nutrition, and rural development – where value can best be created both for society and stakeholders. For more information, please go to www.nestle.com/csv. At Nestlé Waters North America, we are aligned with the Creating Shared Value approach through our principles of "Water Advocacy, Sustainability Leadership, and Community Partnership."

The Nestlé Waters North America 2010 Corporate Citizenship Report

This is the second corporate citizenship report issued by Nestlé Waters North America. The first report was published after 2008 results. The 2010 report describes the company’s commitment to corporate citizenship and sustainability. The data and case studies contained in this report pertain to fiscal years 2008 through 2010 (January 1 through December 31). All references to currency are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted. The boundaries of this report cover the entire enterprise of Nestlé Waters North America and the Nestlé Waters Canada division of Nestlé Canada, Inc., including their respective sourcing operations and manufacturing, administrative, and distribution facilities in the United States and Canada.

The content in our 2010 report is organized around three overarching corporate citizenship and sustainability principles, 9 supporting goals, and 17 related performance targets, all of which are aimed at addressing our most material issues. The report also includes a progress update on the goals we established in 2008, most of which have been met or are on the road to being fulfilled.

We used the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G3 Guidelines as a reference (www.globalreporting.org) for best practices in reporting, but did not adhere to the requirements of the GRI in developing this report.

Our next report will be published in 2013 covering the period through 2012.