As per the Institute for Sustainable Communication, some 10.5 million tons of plastic waste are generated every single year in the U.S., but at most, just 2 percent of this waste is recycled. And the workplace tends to be one of the biggest offenders when it comes to creating that waste — after all, just think of the number of water bottles scattered about the various conference rooms in your office.
But Boston-based startup Bevi hopes to address that issue with its smart beverage cooler in a plastic-free and eco-friendly manner. The smart office cooler is capable of customizing 15 flavored water creations using steamed fruits, with choices ranging from Orange Mango to Blueberry Cucumber for thirsty workers, encouraging them to drink more water from a glass rather than grabbing a plastic bottle or can. Already, Bevi estimates that its cooler, which can be found in Netflix, Lyft, Soul Cycle, and Thrillist offices, has saved over four million plastic bottles from the landfill. And now, Bevi is looking to expand into other markets, including Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Austin, Texas.
“We believe that our smart water cooler has the potential to truly disrupt the way employees think about drinking water. The hope is that we can help inspire behavioral change and encourage more sustainable habits in the workplace, whilst also offering great drink choices to keep people hydrated during the day,” said Sean Grundy, CEO at Bevi. “It’s been incredible to see that dream becoming a reality, and to witness the environmental impact every single day. Some of our customers used to burn through thousands of plastic water bottles per week, and have replaced refrigerators stocked full of disposable bottles with Bevi units.”
Bevi’s smart water cooler also features a connected interface, allowing companies and individuals alike to track their environmental impact (or lack thereof) with the smart water cooler. So if you’re looking for ways to go green, you may want to start with this cooler.
