Aquafina
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| File:Aquafina.svg | |
| Type | Water Beverage |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | PepsiCo |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1994 |
| Website | aquafina.com |
Aquafina /ˌɑːkwəˈfiːnə/ is a brand of purified bottled water products produced by PepsiCo, consisting of both unflavored and flavored water. The Aquafina brand name is also licensed for use on multiple skin care products, including lip balm and wrinkle cream.[1] It was first distributed in Wichita, Kansas in 1994, before becoming more widely sold across the United States, Spain, Canada, Lebanon, Turkey, the GCC countries, Iran, Egypt, Vietnam, Pakistan and India to compete with The Coca-Cola Company's Dasani and Dr. Pepper Snapple's Deja Blue. As of 2009, Aquafina represented 13.4 percent of domestic bottled water sales in the United States, making it the number 1 bottled water brand as measured by retail sales.[2] Its primary competition includes Aqua (Indonesia), Aqua Minerale (Greece), Dasani (United States), Aqua Pura (United Kingdom) and Aquasource (Australia).
Product variants
Aquafina Pure Water, the primary unflavored product produced under the Aquafina brand, is derived from local municipal tap water sources and goes through a purification process that incorporates reverse osmosis, ultraviolet and ozone sterilization.[3] Beginning on July 27, 2007, a disclaimer was added to each bottle of Aquafina, stating the water comes from a "public source".[4] Aquafina uses the term "Purified Drinking Water" in reference to the product on its labeling in the United States.[5] In Canada, the current 1.5 litres (51 US fl oz) bottle of water displays "Demineralized Treated Water". In response to concerns amongst environmental advocates who raised question over the disclosure of water sources, a PepsiCo spokeswoman stated, "if this helps clarify the fact that the water originates from public sources, then it's a reasonable thing to do."[4]
Flavored variations are also produced under the Aquafina brand name – all of which are labeled as containing no calories and no carbohydrates.[6] Aquafina FlavorSplash, first introduced in 2005,[7] is a flavored water product line which is non-carbonated and artificially sweetened with Sucralose. As of 2011, it is produced in six flavors: Grape, Strawberry Kiwi, Wild Berry, Raspberry, Lemon, and Peach Mango.[8] Aquafina Sparkling is a carbonated line of flavored water; however its production was discontinued in the U.S. in late 2010.[8] Other former products included Aquafina Alive (a low calorie, vitamin-enhanced water beverage introduced in 2007 and discontinued in 2009)[9] and Aquafina plus+ (a low calorie flavored water labeled as a vitamin supplement) – both of which have been discontinued in the U.S.[10] As of 2011, the "Sparkling" and "plus+" lines were still in production in other markets such as Canada.[11]
Packaging
Aquafina is distributed in 12 US fluid ounces (0.35 L), 500 millilitres (17 US fl oz), 20 US fluid ounces (0.59 L), 24 US fluid ounces (0.71 L), 1 litre (34 US fl oz), 1.5 litres (51 US fl oz) bottles. The bottled water industry has drawn criticism for the production and distribution of plastic product packaging, which consumes additional petrochemicals.[12]
The packaging has evolved from its original iteration for the purpose of partially offsetting environmental impacts of production and shipment. This has primarily involved packaging weight reduction. The weight of Aquafina bottles was reduced by approximately 50%, to 10.9 grams (0.38 oz), with a packaging redesign in 2009 which, according to the company, resulted in the use of 75 million fewer pounds of plastic during the production process.[2]
Sponsorship
Since shortly after its inception, the promotion of Aquafina has involved sports sponsorships. As of 2011, it is listed as being an official sponsor of Major League Soccer, the Professional Golf Association, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Carolina Panthers.[13] Its packaging also states that it is the "official water of Major League Baseball", which has been the case since the beginning of the 2008 MLB season.[14] In NASCAR, it is a sponsor for Hendrick Motorsports and Kasey Kahne.
Litigation
Charles Joyce and James Voigt won a $1.26 billion judgment against PepsiCo after saying that the company had created Aquafina by stealing their idea to sell purified bottled water.[15] This judgment was vacated on November 6, 2009, when it was discovered that PepsiCo had failed to respond to the lawsuit due to a misplacement of the paperwork.[16]
References
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