As it celebrates this milestone, Danone is opening a new chapter for evian® and for the Water category, backed by a clear set of commitments for the years ahead. The Group plans to step up its efforts to protect water resources, further strengthen the industrial excellence of the evian® bottling site and accelerate innovation to keep pace with changing consumer expectations.
Preserving the resource: a historic priority and strengthened commitment
evian® natural mineral water was formed nearly 50,000 years ago in the glacial rocks of the French Alps. Its long-term protection is a top priority for Danone, which is now strengthening its actions to preserve water resources across both the category and the brand. This commitment is reflected in three major initiatives:
- An additional investment of €8 million by 2030, dedicated to preserving the four natural mineral water sites in France (evian, Volvic, Badoit, La Salvetat), in addition to the €17 million already committed over the last decade.
- The renewal of the partnership with the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
- The open-source sharing of SPRING (Sustainable Protection and Resource ManagING), Danone’s site-level water stewardship methodology developed in 2004. Drawing on more than 20 years of expertise and already deployed in over 70 plants worldwide, this approach will help accelerate water management best practices across the industry.
“Protecting the water resource is at the heart of our responsibility and our future. By strengthening our commitments, we are reinforcing our determination to act ambitiously to preserve an exceptional natural heritage and ensure that it is passed on to future generations,” said Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Chief Executive Officer of Danone, from the evian® impluvium.
Supporting industrial excellence: a new investment cycle for evian
To advance its environmental and industrial ambitions and sustain the brand’s development, Danone is investing more than €20 million over the next two years to modernise the evian® bottling site, a showcase of its industrial expertise. These investments will enable the group to:
- modernise infrastructure in line with the most demanding industrial standards,
- improve the site’s energy and water efficiency,
- reinforce its position as a global benchmark for sustainable industrial performance.
At the same time, the brand is continuing to move towards a circular model. Today, all volumes marketed in Europe and North America are already fully packaged in recycled PET (rPET). Danone also supports the implementation of a national deposit return scheme in France for recycling (DRS), as well as all initiatives that encourage collection, reuse, and the development of circular models.
Measuring and sharing the regional impact of evian
To mark this bicentenary, Danone is publishing evian® Impact Stories, an impact study documenting the brand’s economic, social, and environmental contribution to its local area and ecosystem.
The study notably highlights:
- an economic contribution of €364.8 million in 2024.
- 97% of the wages paid by the bottling site benefit employees living in Haute-Savoie, as do 90% of those paid by the Évian Resort.
- 8,222 jobs are supported by the bottling site and the Evian Resort within the French economy, with each direct job generating 3.8 indirect or induced jobs.
This study demonstrates the strong connection built over two centuries between the brand, its region, and local partners.
Advancing scientific knowledge on hydration
In line with its long-standing commitment to promote health through hydration, Danone is highlighting the findings of a scientific study conducted by its teams in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University.
The findings show that good hydration levels contribute to a better physiological response to stress, complementing previous work on the links between hydration, cognitive functions, and mood.
This study was recognised among the best publications of the year by the American Physiological Society.
Offering a new tasting experience in France: evian® lightly sparkling
To keep pace with changing consumer expectations and the growth of the sparkling water market, evian® is launching evian® lightly sparkling in France, already successfully introduced in other markets.
This new product offers evian® natural mineral water with light and refined bubbles while preserving its unique natural mineral composition. Two formats are available:
- Elegant bottles designed to be enjoyed at the table.
- Entirely recyclable cans suited to new on-the-go consumption habits.
On the occasion of this bicentenary, Danone is reaffirming its ambition: to anchor the heritage of evian® in a sustainable future and to continue building a responsible and inspiring model for generations to come.
