Photo: Visit Finland
Promoting Nordic tap water
"Turn the tap on - Rent vatten från kranen" campaign is launched to promote and educate tourists and locals about pure tap water and its availability in the Nordic countries. Simultaneously, it aims to reduce the amount of disposable plastic packaging and increase the use of reusable bottles.
Tap water is a top choice from environmental and economic point of view. Nordic water supply networks are monitored closely with quality tests, which are not required from bottled water. Therefore tap water can be even cleaner and safer than bottled water. Many tourists trust in bottled water over visiting country’s tap water because they are used to do so in their home country. Also, they are not necessarily aware that tap water in the Nordic countries is safe and in general free of charge. The campaign aims to influence on this via social media and other public material and bring the awareness to tourists and locals about availability and safety of tap water.
Reducing plastic waste
Plastic waste is a major environmental problem and there have been multiple attempts to tackle it. At the same time market for bottled water is increasing rapidly. It is a common way to welcome tourist to hotel or bus tour with a water bottle. Producing and transporting bottled water uses plenty of the natural resources and energy as well as causes unwanted emissions. Plastic bottle becomes eventually waste, which may never end up for appropriate recycling or even to mixed waste but to nature. Therefore another aim of the campaign is to reduce the amount of disposable plastic packaging and increase the use of reusable bottles.
Collaboration
Official partners in the campaign are Umhverfisstofnun (Environment Agency of Iceland), Svenskt Vatten, Ålands Vatten and Finnish Environment Institute SYKE. Additionally there are collaborating partners from water, waste and tourism sectors. The campaign has received financial support from the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Contact information
Researcher Sara Turunen, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi
Advisor Hildur Harðardóttir, Environment Agency of Iceland, firstname.lastname@umhverfisstofnun.is