IBWA recently developed a helpful new infographic designed to visually communicate some important facts about bottled water – namely that its water use and environmental footprint are far smaller than some might realize. It also shows that bottled water is a healthy beverage and great choice for those seeking to make smarter choices when it comes to their diets and lifestyle decisions.
The idea to create this infographic was borne from misleading news stories surrounding California’s ongoing drought and unfounded allegations that bottled water production was somehow involved. As we continually sought to educate the media on the facts about bottled water, IBWA staff identified specific impactful fact points and developed visual tools to explain each one. These evolved into the “Bottled Water – Small Water Use With Big Health Benefits,” infographic.
Infographics are a compelling, easily consumed, and effective means for communicating sometimes complex or confusing material. Social media, a hugely influential source of news and information for most consumers, is fast becoming a visually-focused medium. Therefore, educating people about this important issue via an infographic made sense.
The visuals are a combination of data-driven charts; easy-to-interpret graphics; and short, declarative, quantitative statements. Taken together, these elements convey a cohesive and clear message that ties together two key IBWA communications priorities: our small environmental footprint and bottled water’s important role in healthy hydration.
By comparing and contrasting how various industries use ground water, for example, the relatively tiny amount actually used for bottled water is thrown in sharp focus. For example, bottled water uses less than 0.004% of all the water in the U.S., while irrigation uses 31% and thermoelectric power uses a whopping 49%. And, compared to other packaged beverages, bottled water uses the least amount of water to produce one liter of product, including the liter consumed. The graphical repetition of these facts is equally compelling and educational.
We also made a deliberate decision to base the infographic’s statements on third-party data and research. Sources include the U.S. Geological Survey, Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable, Kantor Panel Worldwide, and the Beverage Marketing Corporation.
To broaden its reach and provide alternative ways tell our story, we translated the infographic into Spanish and developed a fun and engaging video of the infographic.
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