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The members of the European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW) have announced their support for World Water Day 2016, which is being celebrated today.
“Sustainable, protected, and naturally replenished water sources are the core of our business,” said EFBW president Jean-Pierre Deffis. “Producers are committed to demonstrate solid environmental leadership, to ensure highest safety standards and to provide naturally sourced waters of consistently high quality.”
According to European law, natural mineral and spring waters must be pure and bottled at source. The springs are usually located in rural areas meaning that producers provide critical and non-relocatable jobs in regions where employment is scarce, EFBW pointed out. The European Federation of Bottled Waters represents almost 600 regional and local producers in Europe, of which more than 80% are small and medium-sized enterprises. In Europe, the sector creates direct employment for 54,000 people.
Producers have been safeguarding the areas of land surrounding underground water sources for over a hundred years, helping to protect the natural ecosystems through which water flows to reach its natural source. The protection measures extend to the entire catchment area which often covers up to many square kilometres. Producers work in public-private partnerships with local communities, public authorities and farmers to ensure the protection of the source. These joint collaborations not only help to safeguard biodiversity and natural habitats, but are also important for social and economic regional development.
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