In early October, after learning that the City of Trieste was planning to install public dispensers of still and sparkling water, BDS Trieste sent a letter to several city council members, including Umberto Laureni, chair of the environment committee, as well as the press. The letter called on the city council to exclude Sodastream carbonation devices from the dispensers due to the company’s role in violating human rights and international law. Sodastream’s main production facilities are located in an illegal Israeli settlement built on stolen Palestinian land and the company is therefore the target of an international boycott campaign.

On Saturday, November 9, the local newspaper "Il Piccolo" published the letter in full and a few days later three city and district council members from the Federation of the Left Party (Marino Andolina, Iztok Furlanic and Peter Behrens) submitted a written question to Laureni. In his response, published in "Il Piccolo," Laureni confirmed that Sodastream was not among the companies contacted for the dispensers and that the concerns raised would be taken into account for all subsequent acts, including the preparation of the public tender for the water dispensers.

In addition, in a city recycling competition sponsored by AcegasAps, the local water utility, the prize for third place was initially to be a Sodastream home carbonator. However, during the awards ceremony at city hall just days following the statement by Laureni, the prize was replaced with carbonator of another brand.

BDS Trieste congratulates Council member Laureni for taking action to avoid supporting a company profiting from human rights abuses and a brutal military occupation.

BDS Trieste