A. Prima water is locally sourced in the U.S., from approved municipal water sources that are regulated under the guidelines of the FDA (which spring waters do not have to follow). Independent of the source, the water is carefully processed under the guidance of Primo Water Company. Primo water guidelines execute the highest standards needed to meet our purification requirements and the unique taste perfection formula. Although that water has already been filtered under FDA requirements, Prima's standards are so high that we complete another seven-step filter process to thoroughly clean the water of materials, metals, chemicals and contaminants. Then, a proprietary, specially blended mineral package is added, which gives Prima its great taste.

A. Please check out the "Find & Enjoy" section for retailers and other venues near you that carry Prima.

A. In national taste tests conducted at the end of 2007 with almost 6,000 consumers, three out of four consumers preferred Prima's water over the market's leading spring water and four out of five consumers preferred our water over tap water in the same taste tests. The taste tests were conducted in six markets - Charlotte, Tampa, Boston, Dallas, Columbus and Los Angeles - by an independent contractor.

A. Yes. Please see the test results in the Simple Goodness section.

A. No. There is no BPA (Bisphenol A) in Prima bottles. Prima single serve bottles are made from plants, not crude oil like other plastic bottles so BPA is not present. There are also no risk of harmful chemicals leaching into the water as the Prima bottle is made from plants, not oil.

Tell me more about the #7 code.

The number codes you find on plastic containers are there to identify the type of plastic material. It is not a recycling code (although it is sometimes used as such). The coding system was developing in 1988 by the SPI (Society of Plastics) when there were only six types of plastic materials that were used in plastic packaging. So, they were numbered 1-6. The #7 was added as “all other”; to be used by new plastic materials types that were not in the marketplace in 1988. (link to SPI code website). That coding system has not been changed or revised since 1988. So, any new technological advancments in plastics, using oil based plastics materials or bio based materials like plants, are automatically coded as #7. But please know, all #7 containers are NOT the same material so they all have different properties.

There are some reports that state all bottles with the #7 classification code contain Bisphenol A. The fact is, this generalization is not true. Prima single serve bottles are labeled #7 because our new bio-resin has not yet received its own classification. Prima single serve bottles are labeled #7 but they do not contain Bisphenol A. Today, Prima and other bio plastics companies like NatureWorks and plastic manufacturers, serve on a committee with the ASTM (Association of Technical Measures) that is reviewing and recommending new code numbers for bio plastics and other newly developed plastics. It’s is hopeful, that new plastic materials present in the market today will have their own codes. This will certainly help eliminate consumer confusion. To learn more about the classification system:

Visit American Chemistry Council's guide to plastic packaging resins
Visit Californians Against Waste

A. Consumers' preference for bottled water is driven by taste, convenience and safety. Taste is the number one reason why consumers chose water. National consumer taste tests showed that Prima offers exceptional taste preference over the leading bottled water (Prima preferred by 3 out of 4 consumers) and over tap water, with four out of five consumers preferring Prima over tap water in taste tests. Consumer demand for bottled water remains high, as its convenience supports busy lifestyles and on-the-go need for hydration. Tap water may fill the needs of some consumers but bottled water is portable, potable and resealable while being an alternative to other carbonated and sugar-based beverages. Finally, Prima water is safe. Our seven step filtration process rids the water of any harmful contaminates for a clean, fresh taste.

A. Yes. According to the USFDA, bottled water doesn't have an expiration date. But while water does not have an expiration date, there are many things that can affect the life of plastic bottles. One of those is heat. Petroleum based bottles can give off a funny smell or taste if exposed to high heat. Prima bottles are not made from petroleum, they’re made from natural plants. But if you are ever concerned about the age of your Prima bottle or believe it has developed an off-taste, please contact us through the "Contact Us" section of our site.

A. No. Ingeo™, the natural resin we buy from NatureWorks and used to make Prima single serve bottles, does not retain any corn flavor after going through their proprietary manufacturing process. This neutral taste was confirmed in a study conducted at Michigan State University in 2006.

A. The renewable Prima bottle is made from Ingeo™, the world's first and only performance plastic made from 100 percent annually renewable resources - plants, not crude oil like other plastic bottles. Today, Natureworks LLC, our supply partner, uses the starch material from #2 dent corn (feed corn) to produce the materials used to make Ingeo resin.

A. Ingeo™ is the brand name for the performance plastic derived from natural plants and marketed by NatureWorks LLC. It is clear and strong like petroleum-based plastic, providing great consumer appeal but has better environmental benefits versus oil based plastic resins in production: emits 75% less green house gases; uses 49% less fossil fuels and 46% less energy.

A. There is no GM material in the Prima bottle. This is certified by the internationally recognized body, GeneScan Inc. Ingeo™ does not contain genetic material, and its production does not require any genetic content from field corn.(LINK TO Natureworks site with this information)

A. The answer to this question depends on several manufacturing variables, but the impact to the nation's corn supply is minimal. For example, If the Natureworks plant was running at full capacity, it would only use 0.01 percent of the entire US corn crop. Commodity prices vary day to day based on supply and demand. Using corn for making bioplastics will not affect that pricing structure.

A. Prima is always looking for ways to improve the environmental impact and customer's experience with its product. Our vision is to make 100% of the packaging materials, including the label, closure, and shrink film from 100% renewable resources. We are actively working on this technology and have recently changed from an oil based polypropylene label to a paper label. Now, our label and bottle are 100% compostable. The cap and ring are not as unfortunately, technology has not yet reached that innovation. But we stay very close to that improvement and will make the changes as soon as it’s available and safe for the consumer. For more information about Ingeo™, please go to www.NatureWorksLLC.com.

A. First, conventional oil based bottles use limited and depleting reserves of oil and natural gas as their feedstock source for resin production. In contrast, the material for Prima's bottle, Ingeo ™ is derived from annually renewable resources such as plants. These 100% natural plants are sustainable and are better on the environment from the beginning to the end. Manufacturing of the resin used in the Prima bottle uses 49% less fossil resources and 45% less energy than a PET petroleum based resin. Carbon dioxide is believed to be the most important contributor to global climate change. Energy from the sun and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are harnessed in growing agricultural crops. So, because carbon dioxide is removed from the air when plants are grown, Ingeo™ contributes 75 percent less greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than traditional petroleum made plastic materials. To summarize, the Prima bottle is made from renewable and sustainable resources, plants, which helps kick our foreign oil addiction, emits substantially less greenhouse gases and uses less fossil fuels and energy in production.

A. Prima bottles are made from a renewable plant-based natural plastic that is better for the environment than oil-based bottles. Like other plastics, exposure to high temperatures (like inside your car on a hot summer day) can sometimes alter the shape of the bottle. The difference however, is that the plant made Prima bottle is actually showing you, in an odd way, its natural makeup. The shrinking or shape change is simply an indication that the bottle wants to return to its more natural state. It will NOT leach any harmful chemicals into the water because it’s made from plants, not petroleum. Oil based bottles under the same conditions have been shown to possibly leach harmful chemicals and/or transfer odd tastes into the water. As with all beverages, we recommend storing Prima in a cool place.

A. No, the Prima bottle will not degrade on shelves and has a shelf life similar to other petroleum-based bottles.

A. Yes. All the raw materials come from locally grown plants within 50 miles of the Natureworks plant in Blair, Nebraska.

A. Prima renewable bottles have an advantage throughout their lifecycles:

• At the beginning of their life, Prima bottles are made of Ingeo™ natural plastic, which is derived from plants, not crude oil.
• Prima bottles have three recovery options that allow the bottle to be renewed: traditional mechanical recycling; commercial composting; and energy recovery through incineration. Oil based plastic bottles can not be composted and can only be incinerated under proper conditions.
• Although not all recyclers are prepared to recycle Prima bottles today, Prima bottles can be recycled and recycling will ultimately be the most environmentally responsible option.
• We encourage you to look for the method of recovery that best serves your community and discuss the advantages of recovering plant based bottles and materials with your local recycler, city or town.

We also recognize that not all consumers have access to recycling options that accept Ingeo™ natural plastic; in some cases consumers have no access to any plastics recycling. Through the development of the Bioplastics Recycling Consortium and involvement in many government and non government groups, Prima is working with leading waste management experts, retailers, brand owners, public policy experts and manufacturing engineers to work together to develop new long-term, effective and efficient processes for managing renewable bioplastics. We encourage consumers to take advantage of any recovery opportunity everyday. But in all cases, please recycle all you can, don't litter and mimimize what you throw in the trash.

A. Yes, the Prima bottle will decompose back into carbon dioxide and water in less than 30 days in a commercial composting facility. You can take bottles to municipal and industrial compositing facilities where available.

Click here for a list of available industrial composting facilities in North America

A. The Prima bottle will compost completely in less than 30 days when performed in accordance with international standards ASTM D6400 (for Compostable Plastics) or ASTM D6868 (for Compostable Packaging). This has been proven in testing at the Michigan State University School of Packaging; Community Recycling in Lamont, CA and Novezymes. Please go to All about Composting for more information. Ingeo resin meets all the ASTM standards is BPI (Biodegradable Plastics Institute) certified for compostability.

A. Biodegradable means that a material under the right conditions can be broken down and used as a food source by microbes in a natural environment in a reasonable period of time. The key word is "reasonable." Generally, in the U.S., think of a biodegradable material as one that can be left alone in nature and will decompose in three months or less. Very few materials are truly biodegradable.

When products are designed to be composted, they must meet global composting standards such as ASTM D6400 (for Compostable Plastics) or ASTM D6868 (for Compostable Packaging). To properly meet those standards, a composting pile must have high heat (130+ degrees), high moisture content (50+ %) and micro organisms present. Products that meet the requirements in these two specifications will:

• Disintegrate rapidly so that no large plastic fragments will wind up on the composters' screens when the process is finished.
• Degrade quickly (in 90-120 days).
• Not reduce the value or utility of the finished compost. The humus manufactured during the composting process will support plant life.
• Not contain regulated metals.

A. The Prima bottle is intended for industrial-based composts which very carefully regulate temperature, moisture, microbes and turning. Home composting methods vary, so a consistent answer is not know. If you can achieve high heat, high moisture levels, microbes and proper turning, Prima bottles may be compostable using non commercial processes. NOTE: if you have experienced a successful home composting process with Prima bottles please let us know!

A. Yes, technology exists today to recycle Ingeo™ bioplastic used in Prima bottles, back to its original form, lactic acid. In fact, the resin can be recycled 100%, with no efficiency loss of material, back into lactic acid. This is not true with traditional oil based bottles today.

Prima bottles can be sorted from other plastics (just like all plastics are sorted today) using either infrared technology or low wattage black light. Although not every recycler has the same technology, these options do allow for efficient sorting and processing.

Prima is working with the recycling community and other critical groups to make Sorting and recycling of bioplastics more efficient. New materials bring new challenges but the benefit to our environment is worth the effort.

Prima Water Corporation supports recycling of all materials. If you have any questions of suggestions for improving materials recycling in your area, please contact your local recycler or municipality.

A. Working with our materials supplier Natureworks, Prima has tested the ability for the bioresin bottle to be sorted and recycled. Prima has also added a fluorescent die into its preform manufacturing process so the Prima bottle glows a “purple” color under a low watt blacklight. This method allows recyclers with small systems or manual sorting to sort and recycle the Prima bottles. For more information about these tests, please go to NatureWorks LLC. or “it floureses” (LINK)

A. Participants include leading waste management experts, industry stakeholders, manufacturers, NGOs, government, academia and brand builders. This group is working together to develop long-term, effective and efficient recovery and recycling processes and aftermarket value for bioplastics. There have been three meetings of the consortium since June 2008.

A. Prima conceived and is driving the progress of the consortium. NatureWorks is a participate in the consortium.

A. The Prima label is made from paper so it is recyclable and compostable. The cap and ring are polypropylene and are recyclable, where recycling services are available. Currently a bioresin cap and ring do not exist.

A. If a recycling facility has the capabilities to sort and separate Prima's bottles made with Ingeo™ natural plastic, the Prima bottles are either baled for or ground into flakes that are packed according to local regulations. They are then sold to buyers of recycled Ingeo™ bioplastics or PLA. NatureWorks, LLC and it’s recycling partner WRR have a buy back program available to all recyclers. Furthermore, tests by an independent Plastics consultant proved that bottles made with Ingeo resin can be sorted and because of the high effective sorting rates, did not contaminate the end product which was made with the recycled PET. If a recycling facility does not have the capabilities to sort, or chooses not to acquire various equipment and methods to sort Ingeo™ or other PLA plastics, then these materials potentially may be left in the PET stream to be recycled with PET bottles or discarded with other types of plastic materials. That is the recyclers decision.

A. Yes. NatureWorks LLC has instituted a large-volume buy-back program in North America for post-consumer Ingeo™ bottles. Through this program, commercial material recovery facilities (MRFs) and PET bale processors can separate post-consumer Ingeo™ bottles into distinct bales meeting a predefined specification. NatureWorks LLC will buy these bales and route them to an appropriate end of life solution and/or post-consumer use. For more information, see www.NatureWorksLLC.com.

A. The bottled water market is estimated to be a $10+ billion category, and is growing at high single digit percentages each year.

A. Prima is the first nationally distributed bottled water packaged in a bioplastic.

A. Yes. Prima Water Corporation markets and sells three- and five-gallon jugs for use in water coolers and also manufactures and sells stylish, Energy Star-rated water cooler dispensers.