Free water stations, refillable bottles enhance sustainability efforts at The 149th Open

A unique combination of water stations and refillable water bottles from Sweden’s Bluewater helped The R&A avert the need for around 100,000 single-use plastic water bottles at The 149th Open at Royal St George’s in Sandwich, Kent.

 

The water stations delivered free purified water on demand to visitors who were notified in advance that no single-use plastic bottles of water would be sold to the public during the prestigious championship. Instead, visitors were encouraged to bring their own containers or purchase Bluewater refillable bottles on site that were made of sustainable stainless steel and utilizing silicone rather than plastic for anti-leak fillers and carrying loops.

 

“This was the second time in succession we have helped The R&A to fulfil their sustainability mission by providing unique water stations and bottles to help show there are viable alternatives for major events to avoid single-use plastic water bottles,” said Bluewater founder and CEO Bengt Rittri, a Swedish environmental entrepreneur. 

 

Rittri noted the water stations dispensed a total of 48,400 liters of free purified water over the four days of the tournament, which is equivalent to around 100,000 standard 16.9-once plastic bottles of water.

 

Players competing in The 149th Open were also presented with their own name personalized refillable Bluewater bottles, keeping their water chilled for 24 hours. If desired, the bottles can also be used to keep hot drinks warm for up 12 hours.

 

Bluewater also collects 2.2 pounds of plastic waste from seashores around the world for every single planet-friendlier Bluewater bottle it sells, using a blockchain alternative to recycling where people are paid to return plastic waste to certified recycling centers.