Bluewater, a leading provider of sustainable water and beverage solutions, has secured a new three-year contract with The R&A, golf’s governing body, to supply event hydration solutions and stainless steel refillable water bottles for The Open and AIG Women’s Open. The agreement, running from 2023 to 2025, will see Bluewater responsible for installing, operating, and managing its innovative on-site water stations at both prestigious championships.
“We are thrilled to once again collaborate with The R&A to provide sustainable hydration solutions at two of the most premium and forward-thinking sporting events,” said Bluewater CEO Bengt Rittri. “Our water stations and eco-friendly bottles are a great way to eliminate the need for single-use containers at global events, and we are proud to offer this service to The R&A, players, fans, staff, and volunteers attending the championships.”
The water stations set up by Bluewater will be accessible to all golfers, on-site personnel, and the tens of thousands of fans attending The Open and AIG Women’s Open, providing a convenient and environmentally conscious way to stay hydrated throughout the day. Additionally, Bluewater will produce a range of bespoke stainless steel refillable water bottles to be provided to players, caddies, and VIP Hospitality Guests. These bottles will also be available for retail merchandise sale as unique event souvenirs with a strong environmental message. The premium ‘Player’s Edition’ bottles are designed with double-walled insulated construction, keeping drinking water cold and refreshing throughout the day.
The initiative, known as ‘The Open Water Project’, was launched by The R&A and Bluewater at The 148th Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, making The Open one of the first major sporting events to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles entirely. Mastercard, an Official Patron of The Open, has proudly supported the initiative since 2021, using the platform to raise awareness and funding support for global reforestation efforts through the Priceless Planet Coalition. Sustainability and innovation continue to be the driving forces behind the initiative.
“Collaborative initiatives like these make a real difference in protecting our environment without compromising on quality, convenience, or an event’s return on investment,” said Mr. Rittri, a prominent environmental entrepreneur from Sweden. He commends The R&A for their foresight and creativity in implementing such a bold and future-proofed solution at these respected international events.
Bluewater’s hydration solutions combine water purification technology with high-visibility communications and function, providing an ecosystem of sustainable options for global events and venues. The dispensers utilise multi-stage water purification, including Bluewater’s patented SuperiorOsmosis™ Reverse Osmosis process, which removes up to 99.7% of impurities from water. This process ensures the creation of chilled and delicious drinking water on-site, eliminating the need for high-carbon manufacture and transportation of pre-filled single-use containers. Complementing the dispensers, Bluewater offers an industry-leading range of refillable vessels, fully customisable, and manufactured from non-leaching materials such as stainless steel and borosilicate glass.
Through this exciting initiative, The R&A and Bluewater continue to lead by example in promoting sustainability across the sports industry, championing change one water refill and reusable bottle at a time, while ensuring athletes have access to healthy drinking water free of toxic chemicals and microplastics throughout each championship event.
