As yachties, we’ve all carried countless cases of Fiji water down the dock and onboard. Fiji water is the guests water of choice for many yachts – not sure if that is based on preference sheets or by crew decision. It’s price tag, marketing and “story” does mark it as a luxury product.
One of the best things about Fiji water is the square bottle shape that makes for easy stocking. I’m not a water snob as I use refillable water bottles with filtered tap water everyday. The taste of Fiji is nothing special to my taste-buds but I admit that it does have a different “mouthfeel”. Fiji claims that is due to dissolved minerals.
Fiji water makes many claims about it’s products and business practices. Some of these are under the spotlight. Bottled water has been criticized as environmentally unfriendly due to packaging and transportation with Fiji being a prime target because the distance from source to customer. To counteract that and improve it’s green image, Fiji makes a claim to offset carbon emissions by 120% by purchasing carbon credits. That claim is now under attack from a class-action lawsuit in California.
The American corporation who owns Fiji is running into trouble with government of Fiji. This fall it shutdown operations due to tax increases. This was not the first time it did so but this time Fiji water backed down, restarted and paid the tax increase. These costs will probably be passed along to consumers.
All of these activities place the future of Fiji water in jeopardy. There may come a time when Fiji will no longer be available at any price. In November we were interviewed by Rubi McGrory for Dockwalk about bottled water. The article has some excellent ideas about changing drinking water practices onboard. Later in the season, The Galley will followed-up with more ideas and practices you can use.
Soundtrack to Post: F*** You by Cee Lo Green (NSFW)
What particularly strikes me about Fiji and their so-called “green approach” is their lack of starting up any form of recycling.
I’ve just had the sublime pleasure of spending 2 months in Fiji on the yacht I work on and was struck by the endless amounts of used plastic water bottles washed up on otherwise picture-perfect beaches.
Fiji water is pretty much the only available bottled water on the island, and is probably the largest corporate entity in the island group. It would really behoove them to initiate a recycling program with every village on every island, to reclaim all those empty plastic bottles after their brief use.
As first mate of Project Kaisei on an expedition to the North Pacific Garbage patch, I can tell you first hand about the destructive tendencies of plastic. It lingers around for centuries after being used for an hour or two. It breaks down into smaller particles that sponge in toxins and then enters the food chain on the lowest level. So to see it destroying Fiji’s pristine marine environment (some of the best reefs I’ve yet seen) is outrageous and heart-breaking.
Fiji water needs to start 2 part recycling program: it needs to set up centers for collection with buy-back ability (2 cents per bottle or whatever) and needs to provide the locals- who, in some parts, are living much as they did for centuries- with the required education that the bottle they throw out will outlast them and their children by a factor of ten, spoiling their country for good.
I can only hope that Fiji Co. is pressured enough to enact these measures to make a difference, and truly put their money where their mouth is.
Adrian Stone
First Mate of Project Kaisei
http://www.projectkaisei.org
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