Do It Best Barbados has partnered with Newport Systems Inc. to unveil its Hydrate Barbados water station at Sheraton Mall to assist with the reduction of plastic waste on the island and encourage a healthier lifestyle across the island.
Kelly Stoute, general manager at Sheraton Mall, emphasised the importance of the mall supporting environmental programs and initiatives that minimise waste.
“We want to reduce our carbon footprint and support other organisations with similar goals,” Stoute said.
Sheraton Mall supports many environmental organisations, one being the Waste 0 Resources Trust, a platform that aims to educate and encourage Barbadians to reduce the amount of plastic and waste in their daily lives. The implementation of the Hydrate Barbados Programme aligns with Sheraton Mall’s environmental goals.
The new hydration system is centrally located at the main entrance of Sheraton for easy access to all with the aim of reducing the dependence on single-use bottles and encouraging Barbadians to increase their water intake sustainably. Indeed on the system itself, it points out that if just 1 in 5 Barbadians used refillable water bottles, the island could save over 8.5 million bottles of water a year.
In keeping with its support of environmental initiatives, Do it Best also encourages all customers to join their Best Reward Membership Program where customers who shop with their reusable bag on Thursdays receive 20 per cent off their purchase.
The hydration system is completely contactless, only requiring that the user bring their own refillable water container and making use of a foot pedal to operate the system. The water dispensed is chilled and completely free of charge to the user. In addition to sponsoring the system, Do it Best will cover maintenance costs for the hydration system.
The Hydrate Barbados programme, launched by Newport Water in 2020 aims to reduce plastic waste by deploying fresh drinking water stations in key areas, such as schools, businesses and public spaces.
The initiative offers free, purified, and chilled drinking water thereby encouraging hydration in the Barbados public. This programme is designed to empower Barbadians, organisations and visitors in a national drive for health and well-being, and in the fight against single-use plastics in the environment. Sheraton Mall is now home to the 10th Hydrate Barbados Station and the programme has now surpassed
200,000 reusable bottle fills.
Hydrate Barbados thanked Do it Best for its partnership as well as Sheraton Mall for hosting the filtration system in its continued efforts to empower Barbadians to protect the oceans and landfills from single-use plastic bottles. (PR)
