Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBooks
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • Newsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
CommentaryBottled Water

Beverage companies send bottled water to Flint, Mich.

IBWA offers assistance to officials

By Jessica Jacobsen
March 15, 2016

With numerous people and topics vying for my attention, my monthly magazine subscriptions are piling up. However, I made sure to set aside time when my TIME subscription arrived that featured Josh Sanburn’s cover feature about the lead contamination of Flint, Mich.’s water supply.

Although Sanburn provided a detailed timeline of how the Flint water crisis emanated, there still will be more to discover and learn from this story. As the conclusion of this crisis remains unknown, many organizations are helping the metropolitan city in its time of need. Among the industries that have stepped up is the beverage market.

In early February, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) noted that its members continue to respond to the water crisis that is affecting the 100,000 families of Flint. So far, IBWA member companies, including Absopure, Flint Culligan, Maumee Valley Bottlers, Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) and Niagara, have donated the equivalent of 1.5 million bottles of water, it says.

“IBWA has also offered its assistance to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver,” said Joe Doss, IBWA president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Our continuing efforts are focused on helping provide Flint residents impacted by the lead-contaminated public water supply with reliable access to safe drinking water. Safe, clean drinking water is important to everyone’s survival, but [if] public water supplies are compromised, bottled water is a necessary, vital and reliable source of clean, safe drinking water.”

Beverage manufacturers also are working with retailers to drive this mission. At the end of January, Wal-Mart, in conjunction with The Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo and NWNA, stated that it will offer support to Flint by providing as much as 6.5 million bottles of water to approximately 10,000 public school students.

Additionally, the retailer and beverage-makers are encouraging people to support those affected in Flint by working with Good360, a nonprofit that connects companies that have goods with nonprofits and individuals in need.

Donations also have come from the alcohol space. Anheuser-Busch’s Cartersville, Ga., brewery sent a truck loaded with water to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. The shipment contained 2,156 cases, or 51,744 cans, of emergency drinking water for Flint residents.

Entrepreneurial operations have stepped up their efforts as well. Aquahydrate has pledged 1 million bottles of water with a long-term commitment to Flint. Company executives Mark Wahlberg and Sean “Diddy” Combs also urged high-profile friends to join them in their cause with donations and raising public awareness of the Flint water crisis. Musician Eminem, a nearby Detroit area resident, and hip-hop artist Wiz Khalifa already joined the effort and together pledged to continue to deliver Aquahydrate until this crisis is over.

When disaster hits, it’s wonderful to see so many in the beverage market coming to help those in need.

KEYWORDS: charity donation International Bottled Water Association

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jessicajacobsen

Jessica Jacobsen, editor of Beverage Industry, visits a range of beverage companies for cover stories and facility tours, represents the magazine at trade shows and industry events, and works with the Beverage Industry team to determine the content and direction of the magazine and its online components. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Marquette University.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • top 100 beverage companies

    Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

    For the global beverage market, mergers and acquisitions...
    Sports Drinks
  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Alternative Drinks
    By: Lauren Sabetta
Manage My Account
  • Newsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Woman in Coat
    Sponsored byApplied Food Sciences

    Opportunity for Hormone Support in Functional Beverages

Popular Stories

Pepsi Prebiotic Cola

Pepsi offers limited online release of Prebiotic Cola

Airheads Soda

AIRHEADS enter beverage market

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery pays homage to its region’s heritage and history

making connections webinar

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Anheuser-Busch to acquire Devils Backbone Brewing

    See More
  • Beverage companies send aid to the Philippines

    See More
  • three new limited-time-only flavors of Waterloo Sparkling Water

    Bottled water brings more than hydration to consumers

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • ency brew.jpg

    Encyclopaedia of Brewing

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing