China’s bottled water market has expanded rapidly over the past decade.. Yet behind this expansion, a new movement is reshaping the industry: packaging is becoming lighter, more refined, and significantly more sustainable. Consumers, hotels and regulators are now reconsidering an essential question: how should water be packaged? At the heart of this shift is not just the container itself, but a new understanding of quality, sustainability, and brand responsibility.
China’s market once favored large formats and volume-driven value, but this mindset is changing. Younger consumers increasingly care about environmental footprint, are willing to invest in sustainable and aesthetically refined packaging, and choose brands that reflect their lifestyle values. The focus is shifting from “drinking enough” to “drinking well and responsibly.” In high-end hotels and boutique dining, premium and sustainable glass bottles are becoming part of the experience.
China’s national plastic-reduction policies are accelerating the change. Restrictions on single-use plastics continue to strengthen, pushing hotels and restaurants to explore alternatives. Consumers now expect products that minimize waste and offer real sustainability. Recyclability alone is no longer enough; reusability is becoming the new standard. This shift is bringing glass bottles back into focus for their durability, premium feel and circular potential.
Hotels across Mainland China and Hong Kong are experiencing a major sustainability transition. In Mainland China, high-star and chain hotels are reducing single-use plastic bottles and elevating procurement standards to prioritise low impact materials and reduced carbon footprint. Many hotels are implementing internal green standards and engaging both staff and guests in plastic-reduction practices. In Hong Kong, the government has already launched a citywide “No Disposable Plastic” policy for hotels and hospitality venues, requiring the gradual phase-out of single-use plastic water bottles and amenities. This policy has quickly become a regional benchmark, influencing sustainability expectations across the luxury hotel sector in Mainland China.
For luxury hotels, water has always been part of the guest experience. Increasingly, hotels are moving away from imported bottled water toward localized and sustainable solutions that reduce transport-related emissions, simplify operations, and deliver a more consistent premium presentation. Reusable glass bottles combined with local bottling are emerging as the new standard across the industry..
In China, BE WTR has developed a localized model tailored to regulatory requirements and the hospitality industry’s evolving needs. Filtration, bottling, and quality control take place entirely within local water facilities. Premium reusable glass bottles circulate sustainably across luxury hotels and premium dining venues. This model supports BE WTR’s global vision of making sustainability an elegant, seamless part of the experience. For hotel and restaurant partners, it provides a more responsible way to present water, a cohesive and premium brand experience, and a future-ready alignment with sustainability trends. It elevates drinking water from a basic utility to an element of brand expression.
China’s bottled water market is not narrowing; it is evolving. The future lies in more aesthetic, sustainable, localized, and high-quality solutions. For BE WTR, this is both an opportunity and a commitment: to deliver premium water in a more responsible way, and to make every sip a shared respect for exceptional experiences and the planet.