Bottled water services

With over 20 years of experience in the bottled water industry, UL is now proud to offer certification and analytical services designed specifically for the bottled water industry.

Analytical services for bottlers  

Combining a clean water matrix focus, extensive certifications and comprehensive analytical scope, UL is your best choice for compliance analytical services. UL has extensive experience in the analysis of bottled water and offers the bottled water industry the following:

• Bottled water expertise -- Our in-depth knowledge of bottled water monitoring requirements, including FDA, IBWA Code of Practice and specific state requirements, provides you with confidence that your testing will include all applicable monitoring requirements.
• Comprehensive analytical scope -- UL performs virtually all analyses required for compliance, including organic and inorganic constituents, metals, microbiological and radiological parameters, and dioxins. With a dedicated research and development staff, we are also equipped to offer analyses for many noncompliance parameters -- including pharmaceuticals. UL also offers new method development upon request.
• Analytical experience -- UL has analyzed more than 2.5 million samples for thousands of bottlers, public water supplies, engineering firms, consultants, and state and federal agencies, including the military. In fact, UL conducts analyses of drinking water sites from around the world for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.
• Commitment to quality -- UL's commitment to quality is reflected in our certification and audit record. Our laboratory is certified in 50 states and Puerto Rico, making it the most certified laboratory for bottled water analysis. Additionally, our laboratory has been audited and approved by several Fortune 500 companies.

Click here for more information on UL's analytical capabilities.

Certification services for bottlers  

Key advantages of the UL certified water quality Mark

The UL certified water quality Mark adds value in the bottled water marketplace because:

• It effectively communicates the high quality of your product.
• It reinforces your brand as the brand of choice relative to the competition.
• Consumers prefer bottled water brands that carry the UL Mark.

The value of the UL certified water quality Mark is backed by consumer market research

UL commissioned a blinded market research study of 1500 U.S. consumers¹ to determine the value of a UL Mark in the bottled water category.

UL chose Ipsos Insight, a highly regarded, global market research firm, to assess the importance of a variety of factors in consumers' purchase decisions. The study determined the impact of price, brand and the presence of the UL Water Quality mark, among a variety of factors, on share of preference².

The study found that in every tested scenario, all else being equal, there was significant consumer preference for bottled water brands that carry the UL Mark, and that consumers would switch brands or pay more to get the benefits of the UL Mark.

Certification program overview

UL's certification program comprises the following:

• Through our global partnership with UL DQS, UL offers a broad reach of auditing services. UL DQS auditors are well versed in GMP and HACCP requirements.
• Analysis of source and finished product to all IBWA and FDA requirements.
• Verification of the FDA's Standard of Identity compliance for product labeling.

UL has more than 20 years of experience analyzing bottled water in accordance with FDA standards. Highly active in water safety and quality, UL staff has served on the Technical and Government Relations Committees for the IBWA and continues to make presentations to the water industry.

¹Ipsos Insight. US Bottled Water Study: Consumer Discrete Choice Analysis. October 12, 2007.

²The discrete choice technique presents the survey respondents with a series of realistic purchase scenarios rather than asking the respondents directly how important something is in their purchase decision. Survey respondents make trade-offs in their decisions, much as consumers are forced to do when making actual purchases. The technique typically produces more valid and accurate information than asking respondents the same questions directly.