Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

Winston S. Churchill

PET Bottles facing threat in India

On 15th August, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, declared his ambitious plan of phasing out the usage of Single Time Used Plastic by 2022. It is the plastic which can be used just once before can be thrown away or recycling. From 2nd October, the plan would start getting implemented, which is delayed due to “No Alternative Solution” still, mainly in view of What would happen to the 5 million (50 Lakh) workers working in this industry, and viewing the current overall industry slow-down.

It might be a temporary relief

Everyone knows that this can be just a temporary relief, as Mr. Modi has an image of the kind of person who implements things. Through decisions like Demonitization, the RERA, and implementation of GST, everyone knows for sure that he is not going to revert back.

It is a welcome decision

Am I sounding strange ? No way. I am aware, what you must be facing if you are one of those 6000 + Packaged Drinking Water Plant owners in India. You are seeing this news as a pure threat. And yes, it is a threat. Threat to your business and to the environment, existence as well

Know how this plastic may be harmful …

• It was observed that the plastic chokes the drains & water bodies, during the floods
• It releases toxins, and thereby makes land infertile, then it is consumed by cattle, humans.
• Same effects are also seen in groundwater which gets highly contaminated.
• When openly burnt, it releases carcinogenic & harmone disrupting chemicals like dioxin.
• It disturbs the food and aquatic chain through agriculture soils. All/Any Plastic waste management process results in release of toxic metals such as lead & mercury, organic substances, acid gases and other toxic substances to the water, air and soils.
• The contaminated air, poses huge problems to the workers who work in this industry, and other citizens as well.

Feel Good, India has taken a lead role !

To beat any challenge , one can only come up with alternatives with a positive, assertive, optimistic approach. It calls for a “Feel Good” factor. A bigger picture. Feel good, feel proud that you, how small or large though one of those 6000 + business owners, are still contributing to the mother earth. And be thankful, that you are in a country which is taking a lead role in the Earth’s issues !

Why this can be a great opportunity …

Having made a concrete decision to come out with environment freindly options to Plastic Water Bottles, now let’s talk about alternatives. Here, we shall talk about alternate, and innovative Bottled Water Business Models, which might come out of this challenge. Because your business is Water, not the plastic bottle, in principle.

You can become a trend setter-pioneer !

When BISLERI arrived into the Indian market, Bottled water was a great, luxury,premium thing. But now ? It’s such a prominent brand that even pure water is called as “bisleri water“. The situation is similar today, rather, little better. People need not be convinced about the Pure Water importance. And still you can come out with something new to set a trend.

Local Entrepreneurs .. great time for you !

Currently, this business is a Distributor dominated business. The producer sells bottles to the distributor (Rs.6-8 per bottle), distributor to his sub-sub distributors & ultimately you and me pay Rs. 20/- per bottle. So, there is a huge cost we pay for distribution. It’s more than Double.

Again, it’s interesting to know how much is the cost of water inside the bottle. The producer (with his profit) sells the bottle at Rs. 7 (average). The average per bottle cost is Rs. 3.7 to 4.10. In this, water cost is not even 25 paise per litre.

Effectively the consumer ends up Rs.20 per litre, which costs Rs.0.25 (25 paise)

Once plastic bottles are banned, this business is set to open to creative entrepreneurs, who come out with solutions by which they can offer GOOD WATER, to people. This is the time to get out of the clutches of the established pattern of business, and demands Business Model Innovation.

It’s not as difficult as it seems like

How many years have passed since the Bottled Water has become a trend in India ? Hardly 10-20 years. Agreed, bottled water, started with PET only; still there can be many ways. Some of them are like below :-

• Using Glass Bottles in place of PET. You can listen to some ideas at this Podcast
• Establishment of a Water Vending Machine Business (Water ATM)
• Establishing a Brand, getting bottles packed from the local Water Plants.
• Establishing a Domestic RO Business (as people will carry their own bottles)
• Establishing a Pure Water Kiosk where all water specific products can be sold like Water ATMs, Domestic RO’s, Filters, Steel Bottles, Glass Bottles, Copper Bottles, Ceramic Bottles etc.
• Introducing Herbal Water, Vitamin Water Business, like Repacked Water.

Understand that your business is WATER,not just BOTTLED Water. Hence the market is still present. You just need to take a turn & think little differently.

Attend Training to get ideas ..

Attend our Live Training where we shall be sharing & talking about this in details. You may get some excellent clues on how you can encash this newly arrived opportunity.