Category: News & Community Involvement

One planet. One home. One important mission. Earth Day raises awareness of the need to protect our planet’s resources. At Premium Waters, we understand the importance of water stewardship and have an unwavering commitment to sustainability. Per the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, water stewardship means “using water in a way that is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial.”

Did you know that bottled water has the lowest water- and energy-use ratios of all packaged drinks? To create 1 liter of finished bottled water for consumption, water bottlers only use (on average) 1.39 liters of water (that includes the 1 liter of water that you drink) and 0.21 megajoules of energy.

At Premium Waters, we attempt to utilize the least amount of energy and plastic possible before delivering safe, convenient, and quality water to your door or in retail stores.

Why Bottled Water?

Bottled water is America’s favorite packaged beverage for the seventh year in a row. This shows that consumers care about their health and are opting for healthy hydration options over other packaged beverages that use more resources during production.

Furthermore, in areas with contaminated tap water or after a natural disaster, bottled water remains the only reliable source of safe drinking water. In these cases, bottled water can save lives. Thus, producing sustainable bottled water is an ideal solution for people and the planet.

Collaborative Strides Toward Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Premium Waters, we actively collaborate with partners to develop sustainable solutions and champion increased recycling accessibility.

We advocate for cross-industry solutions through membership in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition^® because we believe there isn’t one definitive source contributing to environmental problems and pollution. We can better address these complex problems by working together toward a mutual goal.

Premium Waters is proud to be a member of How2Recycle, a standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward-thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled by empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Look for the How2Recycle label on our branded water bottles!

Premium Waters, Inc. is also an active member of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA). The IBWA is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled water. The IBWA works with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, to establish comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water.

In addition to FDA regulations, Premium Waters, Inc. follows the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice. This code ensures high quality by requiring additional standards and practices, like mandatory annual inspections of our bottling facilities by independent, third-party organizations.

How Premium Waters Embraces Sustainability

For years, we have actively developed and integrated sustainable business practices. With plans to grow our Sustainability Department, we intend to expand upon these initiatives heading into the future.

Using Recycled Plastic & Improving Recyclability

Plastic can be recycled and repurposed. As a sustainability initiative, we’ve begun incorporating more recycled plastic in our bottles. In addition, we take pride in the sustainable and ethical sourcing of materials from our vendors. All of our .7 L, 1 L and 1.5 L bottles have innovative labels that don’t leave behind adhesive residue, which allows for previously unrecyclable bottles to be converted back to usable recycled plastic.

Minimizing Overall Waste & Refilling Water Jugs

A number of our plants minimize waste to landfill facilities. These plants closely monitor their garbage each month to ensure that the least amount of true waste goes out and recycling is maximized. Our plants also strive to use minimal water by incorporating water treatments to reduce lost water and manage wastewater with the help of upgraded compressed air. In addition, we offer reusable pallet programs to reduce overall waste. On top of that, we don’t dispose of our bulk 3, 5, and 55-gallon water jugs after the first use. Once customers return them to us, they receive a deposit refund, and we clean and refill them for future usage.

Conserving Natural Resources & Tracking Carbon Emissions

We’re heading toward going completely paperless for our day-to-day operations. This includes developing and using paperless processes and integrating the use of electronic transactions for customers and vendors. In addition, one of our plants generates and uses clean, renewable solar energy via solar panels on the roof. We have updated lighting fixtures with LED in other plant locations to maximize energy efficiency. With the assistance of a carbon accounting firm, we’re able to track our carbon emissions output to achieve our goal of targeted reduction over time.

Optimizing Supply Distribution

In some cases, we’ll transport products directly to stores rather than housing inventory in warehouses and transporting it twice. With additional plant locations, we’re closer to customers, which also enables us to travel less. To reduce the amount of fuel used for “empty miles” during large freight transportation, we utilize backhauls whenever possible so that the truck remains stocked while on the road.

Back in 2008, we were one of the first bottled water companies to receive the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code 2000 Certification, which highlights our commitment to producing safe, quality products. Our commitment to sustainability and developing eco-friendly business practices is just as important and will continue for years to come. Partner with us as we look to be part of the solution and help do good for our planet!

Looking for ways to make your company stand out from the competition? Offering something as simple as custom-labeled bottled water to your customers can be incredibly impactful for various businesses, from hotels and restaurants to golf courses and car dealerships. It can help enhance brand awareness and promote professionalism. Offering custom-labeled bottled water with your logo effectively establishes and strengthens the bond between a customer and your company.

Top 3 Advantages of Custom-Labeled Bottled Water

 

1. Innovative & Affordable Marketing Tool for Brand Awareness

Custom-labeled bottled water can serve as an innovative yet affordable marketing tool. With water being essential for everyone, this type of branding won’t come across as a blatant marketing strategy. While people hydrate, your company’s name/logo will be highlighted on the bottle, giving you a unique competitive edge. Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business. Advertising doesn’t have to be a costly or lengthy process. Having custom-labeled bottled water on hand is a cost-effective initiative that’s easy to do.

2. Can Be More Effective than Business Cards

Handing out personalized bottled water can also act like a business card. Instead of leaving a traditional business card with a potential customer, consider how effective bottled water with your logo and contact information could be. More and more people are utilizing this tool to get their message across. Getting creative to grow your business is important no matter what industry you’re in.

3. Taking Care of Customers & Promoting Hydration

Providing your customers with a bottle of clean, refreshing water as a courtesy shows that you care about their health and well-being. Water is a precious resource, so offering custom-labeled bottled water to drink is an effort that won’t go unnoticed and will leave a lasting impression. If you operate a gym or healthcare center, you can use unique labels to encourage customers to drink more water to promote optimal health.

If you want to incorporate custom-labeled bottled water into your business, Premium Waters has you covered. Go ahead and compare our prices to your current national brand. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality spring water in 10 oz. and 20 oz. bottle sizes at a competitive cost. We even have a talented graphic designer on staff who will listen to your specific needs to create a label tailored just for you. Connect with us today to get started!

Look no further for a fulfilling career! At Premium Waters, we seek talented people to join our team of dedicated professionals. In addition to an inclusive and welcoming company culture, we’re pleased to offer part-time and full-time jobs with benefits such as a 401(k) with match, medical/dental insurance, paid holidays/vacation, and so much more as a reward for your hard work, dedication, and loyalty. Keep reading to learn more about everything we have to offer our outstanding employees.

Why Choose PWI Full-Time Jobs with Benefits

1. Competitive Compensation & Benefits

We take care of our employees. We’re proud to offer competitive compensation and various benefits to help employees enhance their professional and personal lives. The complete list of benefits include a 401(k) with match, parental leave, medical/dental insurance, paid holidays/vacation, short/long-term disability insurance, life insurance, tuition reimbursement/scholarship opportunities, on-demand pay, and a health/wellness program.

2. Safe, Equitable & Inclusive Workplace

As a company, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We believe our differences are our power because we are all unique and bring valuable perspectives and talents to address any challenge. Our company-wide initiatives are designed to create a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all employees.

3. Various Types of Jobs to Choose From

With plant locations throughout the United States and both part-time and full-time jobs with benefits available, there are several career options to choose from. Open positions include everything from customer service representatives and accounts receivable analysts to route delivery drivers and production operators.

4. We Give Back to the Community

Work for a company that gives back to the local community and meaningful causes. To name a few, we’ve contributed to events/organizations from the American Cancer Society and the Festival Foods Turkey Trot to the Veterans Community Project and Feed My Starving Children. When you see Premium Waters on store shelves or while making a delivery, you can be sure that we’re not just in your community; we’re a part of it.

5. Internal Recognition Award Program

Our most valuable resource is our people, and we strive to recognize and reward hard work. The Wave is a prestigious annual award our company presents to one employee for outstanding performance. Wave winners receive a cash prize, lunch with PWI’s president, a feature in the company newsletter, and a personalized Wave Award certificate and shirt.

If you’ve got what it takes, we want to know more about you. Explore our part-time and full-time jobs with benefits and find the career you’ve been searching for. We encourage you to apply today!

At Premium Waters, we think that our success is measured beyond dollars and cents. It’s important to us to give back to the local communities that mean so much to us. We want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our wonderful customers! Because of your business, we can continue to support charitable organizations and events for a variety of meaningful causes. We’re proud to donate to make a difference to help change lives for the better.

How We Donate to Make a Difference—Thanks to You!

2020 Holiday Donation:

At the end of 2020, each Premium Waters plant and office location throughout the country was given $100 per employee to donate towards a meaningful cause. As a team, they collectively decided where to allocate those funds in their local area.

Some of the charities, businesses, and organizations we were able to support include: Harvesters – The Community Food Network, Hope Faith, Greeneville-Greene County Community Ministries, Stewpot Children & Teens In Action, SOS International, Feed My People Food Bank, Coal Fund, Quanada, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, and Second Harvest Heartland. One of our teams elected to pass out food to people in need. We want to thank all of these organizations and recognize the hard and necessary work they do in our communities.

Summer 2021 Donation to the American Cancer Society (ACS):

Since June is National Cancer Survivors Month, we wanted to honor those who have and are battling cancer. Premium Waters donated $75 to the ACS for every new Nicolet five-gallon home and office delivery customer that signed up during the months of June and July in Wisconsin. The current pandemic has threatened the ACS’s ability to fulfill its lifesaving mission, so supporting this organization became an important company-wide initiative.

Hydrate the Homeless:

This is a nonprofit organization that travels to unprotected homeless shelters in the Milwaukee, WI area during the hottest month of the summer to distribute cases of clean water to those in need. Premium Waters has partnered with this nonprofit to distribute water for the past four years. 

Here are Some of the Local Events Premium Waters is Proud to Have Supported or Sponsored in 2021

iCan Bike Program: Hosted by the Autism Society of SE WI, this program’s goal is to teach individuals with disabilities how to ride a conventional bike and become lifelong independent riders. iCan Bike uses a fleet of adapted bicycles, a specialized instructional program, and trained staff to teach individuals with disabilities how to ride a bike. The bike camp was held in Cedarburg, WI.

Go Hawaiian for Hospice Luau Lunch Fundraiser: Hosted by Choice Bank, all proceeds from this event directly benefit Hospice of the Red River Valley. The event took place in Fargo, ND.

Tri My Best Triathlon This is an adaptive event for children and young adults with developmental disabilities (ages five and up). All athletes of all ability levels were welcome to participate. The swim, bike, run event promoted physical activity and perseverance. It was the largest Tri My Best Triathlon in the nation. This special triathlon event took place in Kenosha, WI.

The Polo Classic: This is the preeminent polo event in the Twin Cities with a rich history of exciting competition and unique events. The Polo Classic is an initiative of This Old Horse, Inc., with the mission of providing support through this annual event for retired and rescued racehorses. Premium Waters hosted a booth and sponsored halftime at this charitable event in Maple Plain, MN.

Walk For Wishes: Hosted by the Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin chapter, this event in Milwaukee, WI included a kid’s dash, 5k, 1-mile courses, activities, and food trucks. Currently, more than 500 wish children are waiting for their wishes to be granted. By supporting Walk For Wishes, the organization moves closer to its goal of granting every eligible wish.

Prairie Pothole Day: This event celebrates outdoor sports and can draw up to 4,000 people to New London, MN. The proceeds from various raffles funded local conservation projects and programs.

Overall, Premium Waters donates to make a difference for hundreds of causes that support community efforts in more than 35 states. If you would like to request a charitable donation, please submit your request here: https://premiumwaters.com/about-us/community-involvement/

Have some empty plastic water bottles in your recycling bin? That’s wonderful. Did you know that you can also reuse and repurpose those containers for multiple purposes? From creating a piggy bank to a bird feeder, unleash your creativity at home via the following do-it-yourself (DIY) crafts with plastic water bottles that only require a handful of supplies. Perfect for adults and kids alike, these easy and fun projects promote stress relief and relaxation while uplifting your mood and encouraging valuable bonding time. Now get off that phone and transform your extra plastic water bottles!

Handy DIY Crafts with Plastic Water Bottles You’ll Enjoy Making

 

Self-Watering Planter Pot

If you enjoy having plants but dislike watering them regularly, this craft is calling your name. Depending on the size of your bottle, you could have self-watering planter pots for herbs, flowers, vegetables, and more. 

Project Steps:

1. Cut the bottle into two half-sections, top and bottom.
2. Make a hole in the cap on the top section with a hammer and nail and run the yarn through the hole, leaving five inches on each side.
3. Add the soil and plant while holding the string up in the top section. 
4. Fill the bottom half of the bottle with water.
5. Place the top section into the base.
6. Water once from the top and then refill the base as needed. The yarn will help the water seep into the soil to create a suitable environment for the plant to grow.

Bird Feeder

Experience the wonders of nature right in your backyard with an affordable DIY bird feeder. Not only do bird feeders positively impact the health of the local wildlife, but it’s also an opportunity to unwind, de-stress, and listen to the relaxing sounds of joyful chirping. Kids can start to identify different bird species and learn about the importance of caring for animals. 

Project Steps: 

1. With a permanent marker, draw a small circle (the size of the spoon handle) on one side of the bottle about 4” from the bottom. Use a craft knife to cut it out. Directly opposite this hole, cut a slightly larger hole for the curved bowl of the spoon to rest. Repeat this process two inches from the bottom of the bottle, but use the opposite sides of the bottle so that your spoons end up being 90° from each other. 
2. Fill the bottle with birdseed via a funnel. 
3. Secure wire or twine around the neck of the bottle to hang the feeder.

Multi-Purpose Organizer

Find what you need when you need it with a homemade multi-purpose organizer that can hold items from pens and pencils to mail and magazines. These nifty units are handy to have at home, the office, and wherever you need additional storage. Step up your organization game and reuse several plastic water bottles at once. It’s a win-win.

Project Steps: 

1. If you’re using the organizer for mail or magazines, cut off only the top curved portion of the bottles so that the paper contents can be securely held in place. If you’re using the organizer for pens, pencils, etc., cut the bottles down to your desired length. The bottle should resemble a cup at this point. 
2. Arrange your bottle cups in your preferred shape (square or rectangle) on a piece of wood board or cardboard that matches the placement. There can be one or multiple rows of cups together. 
3. If desired, decorate the cups with patterned paper, labels, or any craft supplies of your choice. 
4. Glue or nail the cups to the wooden board or cardboard.
5. Place the board on your desired surface or nail it to the wall for horizontal storage.

Piggy Bank

Say goodbye to the days of purchasing piggy banks to hold your spare change by making one instead. Teach your kids to save their money in a fun way. If you want your bank to take on the shape of a different animal, the options are endless regarding what you can create.

Project Steps:

1. Cut out a slit about 2” long and ½” wide alongside the length of the bottle.
2. Take a piece of paper and cover the cylinder body of the bottle, leaving the top and bottom sections clear. Remove the access paper covering the slit. 
3. Cut out two pig ears and one circle that’s the same size as the bottle cap.
4. Glue the circle on the bottle cap and the ears on the edge of the paper closest to the “spout.” Stick two googly eyes or draw eyes with a marker on the top section halfway between the cap and the ears. Use the marker to also draw two circles on the cap to act as the nose. 
5. Turn the bottle over to the bottom side that’s opposite of the slit opening. Glue one bead on each of the four corners so that the bank stands up when flipped. 
6. If desired, cut a short piece of the pipe cleaner, twist it into a spiral shape, and glue it to the bottom of the bottle to act like the pig’s tail.

Bracelet

Love to accessorize? Create your own unique bracelets with the colors, patterns, and materials that represent your personality. The best part is…no one else will have the same item! Make numerous bracelets from just one plastic water bottle and stack up your collection. It’s a fun and creative activity that you can proudly display whenever you wear them.

Project Steps: 

1. Cut a ring of plastic from the body of the bottle that measures 1–3” in width, depending on how large you’d like your bracelet to be.
2. Add glue to the surface of the ring in sections and wrap the yarn, fabric, or tissue paper strips around the front and back. Make sure that the edges of the bracelet are entirely covered for maximum comfort.
3. If you are using tissue paper strips, make sure to add a coat of clear glue on the entire bracelet, let it dry, and repeat until you achieve a shiny finish. 

The next time you’re looking for a fun and creative activity to do at home, keep these easy DIY crafts with plastic water bottles in mind. Reuse what you have and transform these versatile vessels into objects you’ll enjoy time and time again!

We’d like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our wonderful customers!

Because of your business, Premium Waters, Inc. is able to support charitable organizations and events for a variety of meaningful causes. We’re proud to help change lives and strengthen communities one bottle or gallon of water at a time.

Charities We’ve Supported – Thanks to You!

 

Susan G. Komen Twin Cities Race for the Cure

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® series is the world’s largest and most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer. The series of 5K runs and fitness walks raise significant funds for the breast cancer movement, supports those living with metastatic breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. In recent years, nearly 30,000 participants have attended the Twin Cities race every Mother’s Day.

Premium Waters has supported this event for years. For the 2019 race, our brands Chippewa® Springs and Water Joe™ were gold sponsors, and our employees and their families volunteered to distribute bottles of water to attendees.

Ruby’s Pantry

Founded in 2003, Ruby’s Pantry serves over 450k people each year and distributes over 16 million pounds of food. Pop-Up Pantry’s are held on various days throughout the week, including Saturdays in over 75 communities across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Each guest who goes to a Pop-Up Pantry donates $20 per food share and receives an abundance of grocery items. Ruby’s Pantry is a 501 C3 non-profit and has a rich heritage as a community outreach program.

Ruby’s Pantry is our surplus donation partner. We donate most of our extra inventory to help hydrate local communities.

Pierce 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

Pierce Manufacturing hosts their 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb annually at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. All proceeds go to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to provide resources to assist their survivors in rebuilding their lives and to work within the fire service community to reduce firefighter deaths. At the 2018 event, more than 2,700 participants promised to “never forget” the 343 New York firefighters who lost their lives on that tragic day.

Our brand Nicolet™ Natural, the official bottled water of the Green Bay Packers, was proud to be the sponsor of all water for last year’s event.

Festival Foods Turkey Trot

The Festival Foods Turkey Trot allows participants to partake in either a timed five-mile run or an untimed two-mile fun run/walk every Thanksgiving morning. This event benefits the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA in communities that Festival Foods serves. In the past 11 years, the Festival Foods Turkey Trot has donated more than 2.5 million dollars! Every fall, Premium Waters donates all the gallons of water for this event throughout Wisconsin.

Hydrate the Homeless

Water is the essence of life. Hydrate the Homeless is a non-profit organization that travels to unprotected homeless shelters in the Milwaukee, WI area during the hottest month of the summer to distribute cases of clean water to those in need.

Last summer, Premium Waters provided Hydrate the Homeless over 34,000 bottles of water we produced at a bulk discounted rate for the second year to support this non-profit. From July 9–31, 2018, cases of water were delivered to the following homeless shelters: Just One More Ministries, Street Angels, Pathfinders, Guest House, Rescue Mission, Street Life, Walkers Point Youth Shelter, and MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary.

 

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Learn more about other charities & events we support!

We’re eternally grateful for your business and the opportunity to make a difference in our communities.

“We rise by lifting others.” —Robert Ingersoll

 

How does the following sound for your work place: increased productivity, improved morale and lower absenteeism? It’s a simple fact that drinking water and staying hydrated during the day lead to improved performance at work. It’s estimated that the average worker operates at only 65% of his or her potential if not properly hydrated.

Providing office water coolers or bottled water options at the workplace is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to keep your staff healthier and more productive. It’s no secret that staying properly hydrated leads to a healthier, happier lifestyle, so it’s pretty simple math that dictates that we should be drinking plenty of water while we’re at work—where most of us are for at least 40 hours a week.

Our Water Study Sheds Light on How Businesses Purchase and Consume Water

Premium Waters Inc. recently had an independent water study done by deploying surveys both online and via telephone to businesses in the Upper Midwest, with specific focus on the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. This was a blind customer/brand study; respondents were not aware that Premium Waters was the sponsor. The reason for the study was simple: We wanted to further understand our position in the marketplace, and learn how we can continue to grow and evolve to best serve the unique needs and challenges of our customers.

Over 90% of Business Customers Recommend Water Jug Delivery

Our water study found that nearly 75 percent of businesses are purchasing water jugs (3, 4, and 5 gallon) as their preferred water source, followed by bottled water (nearly 50 percent) and water coolers/filtration systems (41 percent). As a whole, business customers are very satisfied with Premium Waters and would recommend them to others.

Among business customers who purchase water jug delivery, overall satisfaction is very high (above 90 percent) among four attribute categories:

• Location
• Ease of Ordering
• Delivery Speed
• Customer Service

Overall satisfaction with primary water jug suppliers is very high, with 93.5 percent either satisfied or very satisfied with their primary supplier. Businesses stated that quick delivery and ease of ordering impact their overall satisfaction with their service.

Water Isn’t the Only Thing Being Delivered

In addition to water services, overall satisfaction for coffee suppliers is high, with 81.2 percent either satisfied or very satisfied with their primary supplier. The key drivers for overall satisfaction are customer service and e-commerce. Businesses value having quality coffee at the office—100 percent of coffee users will continue to use their primary supplier in the future, and 93 percent would recommend their supplier to others. Customer loyalty for Premium Waters’ coffee services mirrors the loyalty we see from our water customers.

This research also found that 37 percent of bottled/specialty water customers purchase custom-labeled water bottles. Of those, nearly 64 percent said having turnkey services was important.

Quality, Consistency, Variety, Convenience

The water market is constantly changing. Customer preferences now include flavored, sparkling, caffeinated and performance waters.

Having access to a variety of quality water products is not always convenient. Drinking plenty of water, however, is essential to workers overall health and well-being. Without convenient delivery services to your office, your employees and customers may not be properly hydrating or refueling their bodies for maximum energy and vitality.

Premium Waters has developed a new ecommerce website and a rewards program for any referrals any of our customers send our way. As an added bonus, we are extending the new rewards program to all of your employees as well, in the form of a discount for signing up for water delivery services to their homes.