Have you ever heard someone describe a salesman so good he could “sell ice to Eskimos?” Well, that’s not a salesman; that’s a conman.
Marketing means providing solutions to real problems. Anyone who can sell ice to Eskimos is likely morally flexible; a position with the CIA or some other clandestine organization might be more appropriate than sales or marketing.
This week, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported that Talking Rain recently “plunged into the organic water market.” President Doug MacLean thinks “[the market] is huge.”
Now, keep in mind, that only Talking Rain’s natural additives are certified organic. Because, like half way crooks, there’s no such thing as organic H2O. In fact, municipal water supplies are under more stringent water quality regulations than bottled water certification, which is completely voluntary.
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is not just niche marketing to consumers. Like the clean water that runs freely from your tap, IBWA is running a pure con to consumers.
Bottled water is almost completely unregulated. The EPA has no authority over bottled water companies. Doesn’t that make you feel safe?
Facts about bottled water:
Americans drink 26 gallons per person annually
1.5 million barrels of oil consumed annually for packaging
Are you outraged yet? Be bold. Sound off at Grist.
Thanks to my friend Lisa for bringing this greenwashing to the attention of Grist readers.