Greening the FGX Water Cooler
[EDITOR'S NOTE: FGX is in a year-long effort to make its business operations greener, ultimately reducing the negative impact of its business on the environment. This post is one in a series of blogs on these efforts.]
Greening the FGX Water Cooler: Eliminating Emissions, Reducing Health Risks
by Claire Le Rigoleur
All around the world, water consumption is rapidly increasing. According to QSR, a food industry trade magazine, bottled water production in industrialized countries grows around 10 percent annually. Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink, demand for bottled water is increasing.
Here at FGX, we began to wonder whether bottled water from the office water cooler was any better than filtered New York City tap water. After some investigation, we found two compelling reasons for switching:
(1) To reduce traffic and reduce emissions: Even though our old water cooler retailer picks up, recycles, and reuses the bottled water cooler jugs, there are still emissions from exhaust each time a delivery truck stops by the office to drop off new water and to pick up the empties. With a filter system, we eliminate the frequent visits; now we just need to occasionally replace the filter.
(2) To reduce health risks from exposure to chemicals in plastics: More important, the scientific community and the mainstream media are alerting people to the potential dangers of certain toxins within plastics. In the case of polycarbonate plastic of the type used in office water coolers, an estrogen hormone called bisphenol A, or BPA, can be released as a result of exposure to heat, especially exposure to boiling water. (Could this be why some bottled water retailers advise customers to keep the bottles out of sunlight and away from heat?)
You can verify the plastic of your own water cooler bottles: polycarbonate plastic containers are marked with a “7″ and swirling arrows.
Since the water cooler bottles from our supplier are reused and recycled, BPA could be released during the bottled water company’s disinfection process prior to sending the bottles out to its customers.
Our New System: Sky Water
Sky Water is a unique company at the cutting edge of the water industry’s efforts to go green. As an active member of the ‘Go Green’ campaign, Sky Water, distributors for Pure Tech, is proud to be leading the charge for eliminating traditional bottled water cooler systems. This company created a filtration system enabling the drinking of clean tap water.
Installation
Setting up the new filteration system only took a few minutes. We just had to plug it in and connect it to the water supply. Five minutes later the water was ready for consumption.
The Results
Convenience: We expect this filtered water cooler to prove to be more convenient than the bottled water cooler system. Indeed, we used to have to remove the empty water bottle from the old cooler, clean off the machine’s rim, and then introduce the new bottle, always being careful not to knock over the water or spill any on the floor or on the wall.
Cost-effective: We expect the filtration system to be cost-effective, because we have eliminated the weekly deliveries. It is a great feeling to know that there will be one less delivery truck idling on the streets of New York, just to deliver us a cold drink of water.
Increased Productivity: Moreover, we’ll be more productive at the office, because we won’t be changing water bottles, paying regular recurring bills for water, and interacting with the delivery personnel for the water cooler company.
Overall, this new system allows us to be more focused on what we do best: providing greener shipping solutions for your company. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be investigating more green initiatives and making more changes to the way we do business. Check the blog often to hear more about the green changes we’re making!
About the author and the other interns: During the summer of 2008, a team of six French students from INSEEC Business School began interning at First Global Xpress. The interns join us with the goal of improving their English, as well as learning marketing, sales, research, and logistical skills. Our interns will help chronicle the continued greening of our operation by guest-posting to the ShipGreener blog. Please join us in welcoming Jasna, Claire, Estelle, Nadia, Cynthia, and Wilson to the FGX team!
Tags: bottled water, BPA, chemicals, emissions, green business practices, health risks, plastics, recycling, Sky Water, water cooler, water filter
