Bottled water is such a common grocery item these days that you can probably name up to ten different brands off the top of your head. Despite water being readily available through the tap of many households, the bottled water industry is booming.
All bottled water, however, is not created equal. Companies that sell bottled water have taken it upon themselves to add “extras” that appeal to buyers. Some sell water fresh from mountain springs, whereas others come from artesian aquifers. Many include electrolytes and minerals. Some companies claim that their water is the best because it’s infused with vitamins and other goodies that make it better than any other bottled water on the market.
Waiakea Water is a bottled water company that actually does stand out from the rest, and not just with cool bottles or marketing techniques. Waiakea Water bottles Hawaiian volcanic water, but not at the expense of the environment. You’ll often hear about some bottled water companies pumping during severe droughts or damaging ecosystems with their production, but this is not the Waiakea Water way.
Waiakea Water is based in Hawaii. Even the name itself is derived from the Hawaiian language, with “wai akea” meaning “broad waters.” The filtering process is far different than other bottled water companies. The water is true volcanic water that is filtered after running through porous volcanic rock in the Mauna Loa volcano. This means that you’re getting the volcanic water benefits, including any minerals that naturally occur within those rocks. How many bottled water companies can say that? Plus, Waiakea Water pH is between 7.6 and 8.2, making it one of the most naturally alkaline water brands on Earth.
The bottled water industry is often looked down upon because of the single-use plastic bottles and the effect that said plastic has on the environment. This plastic is not biodegradable and impacts the sensitive ecosystems of creatures all over the planet. It takes over 1,000 years for a regular plastic water bottle to degrade.
So, how does Waiakea Water make a difference when they’re selling water in plastic bottles?
Well, for one, Waiakea Water stands out above all other bottled water companies because the team genuinely cares about the environment. Not only is Waiakea Water certified carbon-neutral, but the company also supports local community programs and organizations. More importantly, Waiakea Water is using degradable bottles that break down in only 15 years. While still not ideal (ideal is still a long ways away), it is a huge step in the right direction that will have a profound positive impact on the environment. These bottles are also only made from recyclable materials.
It’s not often that we find a bottled water company that actually cares about its impact on the environment. It’s not often that a bottled water company takes the extra effort to be certified carbon-neutral. Waiakea was founded in 2012 and is the first Hawaiian volcanic bottled water company of its kind. Its goal is to transform the industry by focusing on a triple bottom line model that cares about the people and the planet.
Waiakea Water was named one of Inc. 500’s fastest growing companies in the United States. Other companies will hopefully begin to follow suit as the degradable bottle technology continues to advance. We can safely say that Waiakea Water was the first to take the leap.
