Last Updated on: 21st November 2023, 11:44 pm
The 2023 Volvo China Open golf tournament, hosted at the picturesque Shenzhen Hidden Grace Golf Club, delivered a powerful message: “Swing with purpose.” Distinguishing itself from the previous 27 editions, this year’s event, the longest-running and largest golf tournament in China, took a bold step by discontinuing the sale of single-use plastic bottles throughout the venue. Bluewater, a global leader in providing innovative refill stations for events, played a crucial role in this sustainability initiative.
A total of 17 Bluewater stations were strategically placed across the Volvo China Open event, providing complimentary purified drinking water to players, tens of thousands of fans, and staff. By harnessing Bluewater’s cutting-edge SuperiorOsmosis™ technology, these stations dispensed purified water that was free of known contaminants, including toxic metals, chemicals, and microplastic particles. This eco-conscious move prevented a staggering 41,215 throwaway 330ml plastic water bottles from polluting our oceans, landfills, and natural environments.
Zhao Qin, Chairperson of the Volvo China Open, emphasized the shared environmental and sustainability values of Volvo and Bluewater, both originating from Sweden. She underscored Volvo’s commitment to environmental responsibility, stating that “doing the right things for the environment” is at the core of the Volvo brand. She also expressed the intent to continue prioritizing environmental protection at future events.
Steven Tan, Bluewater China’s General Manager, highlighted the honor of assisting Volvo in making the tournament more eco-friendly. The Volvo China Open became the first golf event in China to eliminate plastic bottles in favor of a more sustainable future. Tan explained, “The Bluewater activity at the Volvo China Open builds on our experience delivering a sustainable water ecosystem at events such as The Open and AIG Women’s Open golf tournaments in the UK over the past few years.” He emphasized Bluewater’s mission to innovate hydration technologies and beverages that reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles and their environmentally harmful production and transportation.
To encourage sustainability further, Bluewater reusable bottles were available for purchase at fan-friendly prices throughout the tournament. This option catered to those who may have forgotten their own bottles or who desired a uniquely branded souvenir from the Volvo China Open.
This engagement with Volvo follows Bluewater’s recent appointment as the Official Hydration Supplier for the St Andrews Links Trust in Scotland, the Home of Golf. Bluewater’s innovative refill stations now provide purified drinking water across the St Andrews Links estate, supporting the Trust’s commitment to eliminating single-use plastic bottles from its facilities.
Bengt Rittri, Founder and CEO of Bluewater, commended the company’s role in challenging the prevalence of single-use plastic bottles at major events. Rittri emphasized that Bluewater’s investment in innovative technologies allows consumers and businesses to access healthier drinking water, free of contaminants, directly from the tap. He noted that such collaborations with corporate brands in the events space demonstrate a shared commitment to combating the environmental and health threats posed by single-use plastics.
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In the quest for a more sustainable future, Bluewater and Volvo are driving change one event at a time, leaving a lasting impact on our planet and our health.
