The introduction of bottles with a capacity of 3,001 litres caused a violent reaction of consumers. Many customers considered the Ustroyanka movement to be an attempt to circumvent the new regulations – the social media quickly flooded a wave of criticism, and netizens began boycotting the company's products. The voice of opposition sounded particularly strongly on platforms such as X (Twitter) or Facebook.
The action of former councillor Łukasz Wantuch
Former city councillors, Łukasz Wantuch, joined the public debate. He published on social media a video from the Kaufland store, on which he stickers on bottles of Ustronian women prepared earlier stickers with the slogan "water for smart guys". Wantuch stressed that the bailout system was supposed to support a cleaner environment, and such action by the manufacturer is, in his opinion, contrary to the idea of a new law and irresponsible to nature.
Statement by Ustronianka
Ustronianka Sp. z o.o. responded to a wave of negative comments with an official statement published on its website.The company emphasized that their products comply with the applicable regulations, and the capacity of 3,001 liters has been in their offer for 20 years as an alternative also available on foreign markets. The Communication points out that the company has been actively involved in the construction of a new bailout system and provides consumers with the option of choosing between bail products and those free from the system. Ustronianka also declares social responsibility and flexibility, responding to changing customer expectations.
Division of opinions and follow-up
The public debate shows how important social acceptance and transparency of business activities are. Some consumers demand a correction of the rules and an extension of the bailout system to larger capacities, others point out that companies should honestly support the idea of recycling instead of seeking loopholes. The case of Ustronianka may determine the direction of changes in Polish law and strategy of the beverage market in the following months.
