Arguably, bottled water is one of the swift growing drinking choices in the world; in fact, people in the globe spend billions in buying it. As a matter of fact, bottled water has been a debatably issues, especially, on its contents, morality, healthy, and ethical aspects of it. The content of bottled water differs, depending of the type of company it produces, nutritional information, and ingredients that it contains. Hence, some of the contents of the bottled water include inorganic minerals and metals, such as calcium, fluoride, potassium, magnesium, and biocarbonate. Moreover, water contains some ingredients that are useful to the body. In some cases, water that is bottled using plastic bottles may contain phthalates, since it leaches into the water inside the bottled over a certain period of time (SDWF 2005).
The contents in the bottled water state of health are tremendously complex. In one way or another, the contents vary, making it difficult to actually understand its health concerns. Certainly, health issues pertaining bottled water depends with the ration of the contents. Hence, individuals should be informed on where the bottled water comes from, its treatment strategies, and its contents. Plastic bottles pose a health risk to those individuals consuming bottled water. The phthalates chemicals found in plastics leach into water, whereby it causes negative healthy impact in the life of humans. The chemical is known for disrupting the testosterone, as well as other body hormones (Lepisto & Divine 2005). The regulatory bodies exist in the world, but there are no laws that are directed towards the limitation of phthalates chemical. In addition, bottled water can be cause health issues. There are situations that bottled water has not been treated well, and it may contain bacteria and other disease causing microorganisms. Contents contained in the bottled water could pose health issues to those individuals with poor immune system. For example, contents of bottled water could affect the health of HIV/AIDS, cancer, elderly, infants, and transplants. The samples of chemicals need to be in the right ratio, to avoid further weakening of immune system. Bottled water contains some bacteria because they are not sterilized, they are only treated (Bohm & Brei 2011).
Undeniably, bottled water in the 21st century has become a commercial commodity. Therefore, many companies dealing with bottled water have forgone health and ethics issues for profit. Ethical issues will always contradict with profitability objective of individuals or organizations. Production of bottled water needs to adhere to social responsibility of the organization. Bottled water has been made a commodity of profit, instead of putting the health of the people in the front. It is unethical and immoral to produce water for profit purposes. Many people assert that water should be a free commodity. Moreover, the packaging of bottled water is directed towards the maximization of profit. Yet, bottles pollute the environment, and become a health hazard (Broad 2000).
The ethical implication of bottled water is growing on issues of health and commercialization. As a matter of fact, those favoring the trend of bottled water for profit have comprised the health of the consumers. Morally, society is wealth, and it is justified to ensure that the needs of the consumer are met. It is ethically right to inform the consumer the contents of the bottled water. Regardless of its obligation, the consumer has the right to know the contents and origin of the bottled water. The standards laid down by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) should be adhered by the producers (SDWF 2005).
Based on ethical theories, the issue of bottled water can be related to healthiness. Moral and ethical principles need to guide consumers and the producers of bottled water in the society. Ethical theories present grand ideas whereby guiding principles and rules are based. It coherently answers and correlate issues that require fundamental ethical parties. According to utilitarianism, it is important to promote valued and good ends, rather than struggling to use the right means. Perhaps, bottled water and issues surrounding it should be focused on promoting the valued end. The health of the people is very important than other aspects such as profit. In this case, it is crucial to work for the good that will be useful to the bigger population. The public health in the issue of bottled water is important than the company’s profit. The production of bottled water will be ethical if it is aimed at maximizing happiness to many (Lepisto & Divine 2005).
Another ethical theory related to this is the egoism. The healthiness of bottled water can compromised based on the consumers and producers point of view. Ethical egoism asserts that individuals need to do something that is of self-interest. Based on this theory, the producer main aim is to make profit at the expense of healthiness. On the other hand, the self-interest in taking bottled water could be for prestige (Bohm & Brei 2011). Hence, in both situations there is the forgoing of healthiness. Additionally, ethical relativism holds that moral issues are relative to individual cultural norms. Healthiness of bottled water may be compromised by the norms of the society. There are universal standards on issues of bottled water regarding healthiness; this is because of variations of norms in the global arena. Perhaps, another ethical theory is the theory of egalitarianism. It favors equality among the living entities. The health issue of the people needs to be observed because all people are equal. Generally, the healthiness of people should always reign high as per the ethical and moral principles.
Reference list
Bohm, S & Brei, V, 2011, Corporate Social Responsibility as Cultural Meaning: A Critique of
the Marketing of Ethical Bottled Water. Business Ethics: A European Review, Vol, 20
Iss: 3
Broad, C, 2000, Ethical theories, Volume 2
Lepisto, L & Divine, R, 2005, Analysis of the Healthy Lifestyle Consumer, Journal of Consumer
Marketing, Vol, 22 Iss: 5
SDWF, 2005, Bottled Water,
http://www.safewater.org/PDFS/resourcesknowthefacts/Bottled_Water.pdf
