Canary Wharf Group, a UK-based firm engaged in designing and building properties, is planning to cut 100,000 plastic bottles with installation of trackable water refill stations in shopping malls.
Image: Canary Wharf plans to install water refill stations. Photo: courtesy of Canary Wharf Group PLC.
The move is the company’s next step in its 12-month #BreakingThePlasticHabit campaign, making it the first commercial center to take part in the Surfers Against Sewage-led initiative.
As part of this effort, the Canary Wharf is planning to install a total of seven trackable water refill stations with the first installed in Canada Place.
The second refill station is planned to be installed in Cabot Place by the end of this week followed by the remaining five in September in this year. The refill stations
Each of the water refill station features a unique counter system designed to track number of bottles being refilled.
The refill machines are being supplied by British firm MIW Water Cooler Experts.
MIW Water Cooler Experts managing director Mike Winter said: “Responsible organisations like Canary Wharf Group are showing that where there’s a will there’s a way to tackle the scourge of plastic bottles. The solution is as simple as it was in Victorian times, when you’d find a drinking fountain on every street corner.
“The difference now is that the latest models of outdoor fountains are tougher, safer and more accessible than ever before.
“This will be the first time fountains which can track usage are installed in UK shopping malls, so it will be exciting to see how many single use water bottles we are able to replace with refills.”
The machines which are planned to be installed in Canary Wharf’s shopping malls will allow customers to top up their water bottles on the go.
Canary Wharf Management co-managing director Steve Greig said: “After making Canary Wharf a clean coffee zone, tackling plastic straws, introducing a Deposit Return Scheme and set to become the world’s first plastic free commercial centre, this is a natural next step for us.
“We hope this helps even more people make the switch to carrying a reusable bottle.”