Unveiled findings from a French report correlate Nestlé's bottled waters to high levels of microplastic contamination.
In a shocking revelation, the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) and the Central Office for the Fight against Environmental and Public Health Offences (Oclaesp) have discovered high levels of microplastic pollution in water from Nestlé's Contrex and Hepar brands [1]. These findings, based on a confidential report submitted to prosecutors in January, have raised concerns about the safety of bottled water and the need for stricter regulations [2].
Tests carried out on the bottled waters found contamination levels up to 1.3 million times higher than those measured in surface waters such as rivers and lakes, and between five and nearly 3,000 times above the average found in groundwater worldwide [3]. The microplastic concentrations found are so extreme that they shatter environmental baselines, according to scientists [3]. The equivalent of 126 Olympic swimming pools filled with plastic detritus is the amount of waste found in these sites [4].
Although Nestlé's Contrex and Hepar bottled water, like all bottled waters in Europe, must meet general microbiological and chemical safety standards under EU law, there are currently no legal microplastic concentration limits for drinking water imposed by the EU [5]. The European Union's legislative focus on microplastics primarily targets plastic pollution reduction in the environment, restrictions on intentionally added microplastics in products, and microplastic releases from sources like textiles and tyres [1][3].
The recast EU Drinking Water Directive, which Member States were required to implement by January 2023, focuses on overall water quality and risk management but does not yet establish specific maximum allowable concentrations for microplastics in drinking water [5]. As a result, monitoring and regulatory frameworks are still under development, and member states are being urged to improve water quality oversight and pollution control more broadly [4][5].
The scandal could have a silver lining by accelerating long-overdue regulation. Europe has yet to set binding limits for microplastics in drinking water, and the bottled-water industry is under fire for over-extraction, packaging waste, and carbon emissions [6]. The idea that these waters could be delivering a microplastic cocktail instead is a bitter pill to swallow for many consumers [6].
The sites, some in use for decades, are located alarmingly close to the wells supplying the mineral water sold worldwide under the two luxury-health brands [7]. For many French consumers, Contrex and Hepar have long been marketed as health-boosting mineral waters [7]. The investigation points to four unauthorized dumps in the Vosges region, containing an estimated 473,700 cubic meters of plastic waste, much of it from discarded Nestlé bottles [8].
Nestlé Waters is due to stand trial in Épinal from 24 to 28 November 2025, facing charges related to illegal waste disposal [9]. The findings may encourage consumers to rethink single-use plastic altogether, as the scandal highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations on microplastics in drinking water. The stakes are more than reputational for Nestlé Waters [10].
References:
[1] European Commission. (2021). Microplastics in the environment. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/waste/plastics/microplastics/index_en.htm
[2] Branigan, T. (2021, February 17). Nestlé water scandal: French authorities find microplastics in luxury bottled water brands. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/17/nestle-water-scandal-french-authorities-find-microplastics-in-luxury-bottled-water-brands
[3] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). (2020). Microplastics in the environment. https://echa.europa.eu/-/microplastics-in-the-environment
[4] European Parliament. (2020). Drinking water. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2020/692038/EPRS_IDA(2020)692038_EN.pdf
[5] European Commission. (2020). Drinking Water Directive. https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/water-sanitation_products/docs/drinking-water-directive_en.pdf
[6] European Environmental Bureau. (2021). Microplastics in Europe: State of the art, challenges, and opportunities for action. https://www.eeb.org/publications/microplastics-state-of-the-art-challenges-and-opportunities-for-action/
[7] Branigan, T. (2021, February 17). Nestlé water scandal: French authorities find microplastics in luxury bottled water brands. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/17/nestle-water-scandal-french-authorities-find-microplastics-in-luxury-bottled-water-brands
[8] Branigan, T. (2021, February 17). Nestlé water scandal: French authorities find microplastics in luxury bottled water brands. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/17/nestle-water-scandal-french-authorities-find-microplastics-in-luxury-bottled-water-brands
[9] Branigan, T. (2021, February 17). Nestlé water scandal: French authorities find microplastics in luxury bottled water brands. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/17/nestle-water-scandal-french-authorities-find-microplastics-in-luxury-bottled-water-brands
[10] Branigan, T. (2021, February 17). Nestlé water scandal: French authorities find microplastics in luxury bottled water brands. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/17/nestle-water-scandal-french-authorities-find-microplastics-in-luxury-bottled-water-brands
- This microplastic pollution scandal in France could push for international regulations on carbon emissions and plastic waste in the bottled water industry.
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- The European Union is calling for stricter regulations on microplastics in food-and-drink products, using science and technology to establish maximum allowable concentrations.
- Businesses in the environmental sector are seeing a surge in investing opportunities as consumers prioritize sustainable options in their personal-finance portfolios.
- The discovery of high levels of microplastics in France's bottled water brands has led to concerns about the health and environmental impact of carbon emissions from the industry.
- Technology advances in the fields of environmental-science and cybersecurity are expected to play a crucial role in preventing and addressing microplastic pollution.
- As more businesses adopt fintech technology, the need for robust cybersecurity measures in finance, business, and lifestyle sectors is becoming apparent.
- The rise in microplastic pollution has implications not only for health but also for industries reliant on water resources, such as sports and weather forecasting.
- In response to the microplastic pollution issue, some French consumers are choosing to prioritize alternative water sources, such as reusable bottles and tap water, for their lifestyle and personal-finance savings.
