SodaStream makes countertop bubbly water sustainable and healthy

Imagine a scenario in which just 32 people working together in Canada are able to prevent a whopping 217 million single‑use plastic bottles and cans from ending up in our landfills.

That is exactly what happens every year thanks to SodaStream, the at-home sparkling-water-making machine that turns tap water into carbonated bubbly water on your countertop, according to Rena Nickerson, SodaStream Canada’s general manager.
SodaStream’s environmentally friendly home carbonation systems are centred on a sustainable circular return and reuse system.

The canister that provides carbonation is refillable rather than disposable, and the accompanying plastic bottle for the final product lasts up to three years. The compact system, which includes reusable BPA‑free bottles and concentrated sparkling drink mix, greatly reduces the use of recyclables and disposables.

One family can save up to 2,000 bottles in a year.

“It’s kind of staggering how big of an environmental impact we are able to have. Canadians understand; they get it. They are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint.”

Nickerson says SodaStream’s success with its fizzy water‑maker springs from the company’s roots in Israel.

Israel is a start-up nation with a focus on technology, and there is so much room for sharing ideas and innovations.

With the recent modernization of the 1997 Canada‑Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), there is room for more trade and investment between the two countries.

Nickerson says the Canada-Israel bond is strong and CIFTA reflects that. “We don’t pay customs and duty, but beyond the tax side, we really feel the love between Canada and Israel,” she says.

Nickerson points to the three pillars of the company’s vision: well-being, sustainability and coexistence.

“Our plant in Israel is called an ‘Island of Peace,’” she says. “It is a story of coexistence between Jews and Muslims who quite simply get along.”

SodaStream has made a big splash in Canada since arriving on the market in 2010. In that time, a total of 1.5 million home carbonation machines, 5 million gas cylinders and 7.5 million flavour mixes were sold.

To meet Canadian demand, the company opened a plant in Mississauga in January, 2019, to refill its bubble-producing gas cylinders and continue the company’s mission to reduce plastic waste. Previously, the CO2 carbonators were shipped to New Jersey for refilling.

The company plans to open a second production line in summer 2019.

Nickerson says she is proud of SodaStream’s place on Canada’s kitchen counters.

“We are a rare high-profile product from Israel. Instead of a tech chip in your phone, we are a consumer-facing brand that represents innovation and sustainable living. It is a piece of Israel at its very best.”