Ethos water

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Ethos water started out as a local bottled water company, established in California in 2003.[1] In 2005 Starbucks purchased the company for $8 million and its products are now sold throughout North America.[2] After Stabucks' acquisition, the brand has become known for its campaign to raise ten million dollars by donating between five and ten cents from every sale to a non-governmental organization working to increase access to clean drinking water in the developing world.

[edit] Criticism

Critics of Ethos cite how the for-profit company selling water detracts from other efforts to provide water to impoverished nations.

It has been pointed out that the Ethos brand is primarily commercial, since only tiny fraction ($0.05 to $0.10) of the retail price ($1.80) goes to the charity.[3] The company raised around four million US dollars for this purpose, while the vast remainder of the price ($1.70 - $1.75) is the company's revenue ($140 million). This led many Starbucks' customers to suspect that the company is engaged in unethical and unfair market practices.

Ethos water is manufactured by PepsiCo, but unlike other Pepsi products, Ethos bottles do not contain recycled plastic.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Walker, Rob (2006-02-26). Big Gulp. New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  2. ^ Buy Water, Help Children. Business Week (2006-03-22). Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  3. ^ Terefenko, Paul (2007-03-22). Stealing Water Day. Now. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  4. ^ Allison, Melissa (2008-05-14). Starbucks struggles with reducing environmental impacts. Seattle Times. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.

[edit] External links

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