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!