Nestle Waters North America Inc. this week dedicated a new, environmentally-friendly water bottling facility in Lehigh County that is designed to meet LEED green building standards.

The company' new 576,531-square-foot plant is next to its Breinigsville facility, and the operation can be expanded by another 120,000 square feet to accommodate future growth. The plant meets the rigorous Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, specifications – and the official LEED-certification process is underway.

The new Nestlé Waters Lehigh Valley plant bottles the company's Pure Life brands. The company is also producing its new environmentally designed "eco-shape" bottles at both of its Lehigh Valley bottling plants.

"Like Gov. Rendell, Nestlé Waters North America is dedicated to environmental leadership," said Peter Rittenhouse, supply chain director for Nestlé Waters. "Our new plant meets the high standards required for LEED certification and our new eco-shape packaging uses less plastic than any bottle in history. We are committed to supporting recycling efforts and protecting the region's sustainable water resources. Most of all, we are proud of our employees and the healthy product they produce every single day."

Nearly a third of all bottled water sold in the United States is distributed by Nestlé Waters North America, formed in 1976 with just one brand – Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water. They have operated a 500,000–square-foot water bottling plant in Breinigsville for the past 10 years, primarily bottling Deer Park and Great Bear brands.

To learn more, visit the NestleWaters North America Inc. website.

10/26/2007