A lot of people love bottled water, citing superior taste over tap water, and many people even prefer specific brands for their refreshing taste. Now, bottled water is even making an impact on environmental and social sustainability.
The owner of Waiakea Water is Ryan Emmons. When he was 20, he took a sip of well water at his uncle’s place in Hawaii, and he thought that it tasted so good that someone should bottle it. That’s exactly what he set out to do. While no one can own the water in Hawaii, it can be leased for 99 years.
Volcanic Water
The water in Hawaii has special properties that can’t be found just anywhere. The water is naturally filtered through different minerals, giving it a unique taste. As water cascades down through the volcanic rock, it picks up electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Waiakea water is also naturally alkaline with a pH between 7.6 and 8.2. The electrolytes and natural alkalinity also mean that there are many volcanic water benefits. Although alkalinity can be added to water, naturally occurring alkalinity is better for your body. Water that gets its alkalinity through unnatural processes actually tricks the body into thinking that it’s getting more alkalinity than it actually does.
An Eco-Conscious Product
Beyond being a great tasting water that also gives you essential nutrients that you can’t find in all bottled water, Waiakea Water is also doing things to create a more eco-conscious product. Many bottled waters use plastic in their containers, and not all people recycle their plastic bottles. Plastic can take between 1,000 and 1,500 years to decompose. But there is a plastic called rPet, which is made with post-consumer recycled materials. Not only does rPet use post-consumer materials to make its bottles but this plastic also only takes about 15 years to decompose. This means that even if the consumer throws the bottle in the trash, it still won’t add to the landfill for very long.
A Socially Responsible Company
Ryan Emmons also noticed that many rural areas of the world didn’t have access to clean water. To help alleviate this problem, he has partnered with Pump Aid to provide clean water to these areas. For every liter of Waiakea Water sold, the company donates water to these regions.
Waiakea Water’s Awards
The company has been recognized as a socially and environmentally responsible company in several places. Waiakea Water has been awarded the Best in Biz award for its social responsibility. On the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies, it ranked at 414. And the company was ranked by Beverage World Magazine as eighth on the list.
Many companies make bottled water, but not all companies have the vision that Waiakea Water has. It’s a socially and environmentally conscious water company that bottles great tasting water that is good for your body and your conscience.
