Who Owns S.Pellegrino?

S.Pellegrino operates under Nestle's sustainability framework. Nestle has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company reported an 18.6 percent reduction in absolute GHG emissions from its 2018 baseline as of 2024.

All 39 Nestle Waters bottling sites globally have been certified to the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard, an independently verified certification that assesses water stewardship performance across four pillars: good water governance, sustainable water balance, good water quality, and important water-related areas. The San Pellegrino Terme facility holds this certification.

In Italy, Nestle Waters runs the F.O.N.T.E. program (Future, Origin, Nature, Territories, Ecosystems), a collective action initiative involving public and private stakeholders. The program includes hydrological redevelopment at the Gabbianello Oasis in Tuscany, reforestation in Lombardy, aquifer recharging in Veneto, and environmental redevelopment in Bergamo near San Pellegrino Terme. Nestle has invested an initial EUR 30 million over five years and committed a further EUR 40 million through 2030.

S.Pellegrino's signature green glass bottles are fully recyclable. The brand also offers PET plastic bottles and cans for on-the-go consumption. Nestle participates in the U.S. Plastics Pact and has committed to transitioning packaging to recyclable or reusable materials.

The brand's Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks use aluminum cans, which are recyclable. The company has been working to reduce the weight of its glass bottles to lower transportation-related carbon emissions.

S.Pellegrino's awards and recognition are primarily tied to its culinary partnerships rather than independent product awards. The brand's most notable recognition comes from its long-standing partnership with The World's 50 Best Restaurants, where S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna serve as the official water partners for the prestigious restaurant ranking program.

The brand sponsors the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition, now in its seventh edition. The competition identifies and supports young chefs globally, with regional finals leading to a grand finale judged by established culinary figures.

S.Pellegrino is widely recognized in the foodservice industry as the preferred sparkling mineral water at top restaurants worldwide. This position has been built through decades of restaurant placements rather than through formal industry awards.

S.Pellegrino has not been subject to major product recalls. The brand has, however, faced controversies common to the bottled water industry.

A 2018 study by Orb Media tested 259 bottled water samples from 11 international brands and found plastic particles in 93 percent of samples. S.Pellegrino was among the brands tested. A 2024 study from Columbia University published in PNAS found high levels of nanoplastics in bottled water, raising consumer concerns about plastic particle ingestion. Nestle responded by pointing to its packaging innovation efforts and commitment to recyclable materials.

Consumer Reports testing in 2020 found detectable levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in S.Pellegrino water at 0.31 parts per trillion. This level was among the lowest detected across brands tested and well below the EPA's health advisory limit of 4 parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA. No regulatory action was taken.

Environmental groups have raised concerns about the carbon footprint of transporting bottled water from Italy to global markets. Nestle has addressed these concerns by investing in lighter packaging, regional bottling where possible, and carbon reduction programs across its supply chain. The F.O.N.T.E. program in Italy represents a EUR 70 million investment in water basin protection and biodiversity conservation through 2030.