Thursday, October 6, 2016

Liquid assets: how the business of bottled water went mad

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/06/liquid-assets-how--business-bottled-water-went-mad

Over the past two decades, bottled water has become the fastest-growing drinks market in the world. The global market was valued at $157bn in 2013, and is expected to reach $280bn by 2020. Last year, in the UK alone, consumption of water drinks grew by 8.2%, equating to a retail value of more than £2.5bn. Sales of water are 100 times higher than in 1980. Of water: a substance that, in developed countries, can be drunk for free from a tap without fear of contracting cholera. What is going on?