From the Blue Community / Blue City of Paris, France, and its public water service Eau de Paris:
Thanks to the mobilisation of 1,000 businesses with Eau de Paris, 1 million plastic bottles have been avoided.
Eau de Paris revealed the results of a survey conducted among its partner shops in the ‘Ici, je choisis l’eau de Paris’ (Here, I choose Paris water) network. The results demonstrate the initiative’s success. Over the course of a year, 498,541 litres of water were distributed, saving almost 1 million 50cl plastic bottles.
This scheme was born out of a collective effort.
The ‘Ici, je choisis l’eau de Paris’ network is the result of a collaborative effort launched in 2019 by Eau de Paris through the creation of the ‘Paris de l’eau zéro déchet plastique’ (Paris zero plastic waste water) Action Tank. This initiative brought together around thirty public, private, and non-profit organisations to collectively reflect on ways to reduce the use of single-use plastic, particularly in practices related to hydration.
Among the lessons learned from the Action Tank:
- Easy access to water is more important than the type of container used.
- It is necessary to deconstruct the image built around bottled water, which is often promoted by marketing.
- Confidence in tap water must be strengthened through transparency and information.
Based on these findings, the network was created, modelled on the ‘Refill London’ initiative. Businesses join the scheme voluntarily after being informed by Eau de Paris or its partners.
Results measured after four years.
Since its launch, the network has continued to grow. Today, ‘Ici, je choisis l’eau de Paris’ has over a thousand partner businesses. Eau de Paris commissioned the research institute Becoming to conduct a survey of Parisian retailers to assess actual usage related to tap water distribution, perceived business benefits, and satisfaction levels.
On average, 24 people fill their water bottles in each participating business each week. This frequency was measured as part of a survey conducted among the network. 95% of participating shops consider the scheme useful, and 72% believe it is easy to implement. Beyond the environmental aspect, the initiative also has economic benefits:
- 40% of shops believe it enhances their establishment.
- 60% find that the service occasionally encourages purchases.
Download the impact study of the ‘Ici, je choisis l’eau de Paris’ retail network, August 2025.
Download the full study, conducted in August 2025 by the Becoming Research Institute, which assesses the actual use of tap water distribution within the ‘Ici, je choisis l’eau de Paris’ network, as well as the perceived benefits for businesses and the level of satisfaction among partner retailers: PDF, 767.55 KB (French)
A diverse network rooted in local life
It brings together a wide variety of businesses, including bakeries, bookshops, cafés, restaurants, florists, chemists, hotels, gyms and cultural venues. These include neighbourhood businesses and larger chains.
The network complements the 1,300 drinking fountains located in Parisian public spaces. All fresh water distribution points are listed on an interactive map, which is available online.
A local response to a global challenge
In the absence of an international agreement on reducing plastic pollution, Eau de Paris is taking action across Paris. Tap water in Paris is protected at source, undergoes continuous analysis and requires minimal treatment, making it an environmentally friendly and reliable solution.
Every litre of tap water consumed also avoids exposure to the microplastics present in some bottled waters. Developing this network also helps the city adapt to climate change by ensuring easy access to water during periods of high temperatures.
The ultimate goal is to encourage people to make refilling a habit.
The expansion of the network aims to encourage sustainable behavioural change. Ideally, in the future, all shops will offer free water refills as standard, and people will naturally opt for reusable containers when travelling.
