Hydro Flask is a brand of water bottle owned by Helen of Troy Limited. The brand became very popular during late 2019 and early 2020, particularly among millennials, members of Generation Z, and members of the “VSCO girl” subculture.
The company is best known for its water bottles but also produces wine tumblers, tote bags, cooler bags, and a number of other products.
The water bottles are metal, manufactured mostly in China, and make use of double-wall vacuum insulation in order to keep liquids cold or hot for a long time.
As of October 2019, Hydro Flask offered customizable water bottles in 14 colors. The company also offers different cap types and sizes and regularly releases limited edition bottle designs for enthusiasts.
Hydroflask takes sustainability seriously.
One of the companies championing the sustainability of the fourth industrial revolution, Hydroflask set three pillars of sustainability – social, community and environmental – and employees work across departments to make progress in each area.
- Social: Hydro Flask uses the Higg Index Facilities Social Labor Module (Higg FSLM) to guide tracking of their social and labor performance and improvement. Participating in the Higg Index is no small feat. The Higg FSLM measures labor, health and safety performance at individual factories, not just at the parent company. Collecting data throughout a supply chain, across languages, cultures and time zones is complex and challenging. But the benefit is that facility managers across the globe can learn current best practices in the field, obtain guidance on hotspots for improvement and compare their performance against their peers. Globalization has decreased visibility and control of labor practices and the Higg Index is a response to that. Strengthening supply chain engagement is the key to sustainable business operations.
- Community: The company has had a charitable arm from the very beginning. Their “Parks for All” program aims to build, maintain, restore and improve access to public green spaces and has generously given over $838,000 to 63 nonprofits for these purposes! In 2019 they funded programs ranging from Latino Outdoors (empowering underrepresented communities to access and enjoy parks and outdoor recreation) to Surfers Against Sewage (to increase coastline health). These projects bring people together to protect and enjoy the places they love. Hydro Flask has sold product seconds (products with minor scratches or dents) at discounted prices to Bend locals, with all proceeds going to employee-selected local organizations such as the Deschutes County Search and Rescue Foundation, the Deschutes County Land Trust, the Central Oregon Trail Alliance and Oregon Adaptive Sports.
- Environmental: Hydro Flask products are composed mostly of steel. Plastic is used for lids and textiles and other materials are used for totes and coolers. Steel, plastic, and textile production have a number of impacts on the environment (e.g., air and water quality, hazardous and solid wastes). They designed their product from the beginning to be BPA-free and innovated a low impact solder to be used in the manufacturing process. They are currently undertaking a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and are working with key suppliers to track their emissions data. Incorporating the use of recycled materials into products is one-way companies are reducing life-cycle impacts. Steel is, in fact, the most recyclable material on earth and can be recycled an infinite number of times, making it highly suited for transitioning to the circular economy. In the circular economy, there is no waste and old products are made into new products at the end of their life. However, there are challenges for food-grade products. Also important for the circular economy is keeping a product in use as long as possible. Hydro Flask durability has already been highlighted and repairability is possible with replacement parts available for purchase. And Hydro Flask bottles are recyclable at the end of their life – just take it to a local steel recycler. Hydro Flask’s ability to innovate will be an asset as they continue to reduce impacts on the environment.
About Hydro Flask
Hydro Flask is the award-winning leader in high-performance insulated products from beverage and food flasks to the new Unbound Series® soft coolers. Believing that every adventure starts with two simple words: Let’s Go!, Hydro Flask creates products that facilitate an active and joyful lifestyle. Hydro Flask’s innovations showcase TempShield® double-wall vacuum insulation to lock in temperature, 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel to ensure pure taste and durable, ergonomic design for comfort and durability. Founded in 2009 in Bend, Oregon, Hydro Flask is committed to making tomorrow better – from using BPA-free, recyclable materials to its charitable giving program Parks For All, which supports the development, maintenance and accessibility of public green spaces so people everywhere can live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives. Learn more about Hydro Flask, Parks for All, and our mission to save the world from lukewarm at www.hydroflask.com.
About Helen of Troy Limited
Helen of Troy Limited is a leading global consumer products company offering creative solutions for its customers through a strong portfolio of well-recognized and widely-trusted brands, including OXO, Hydro Flask, Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, and Hot Tools. All trademarks herein belong to Helen of Troy Limited (or its affiliates) and/or are used under license from their respective licensors. For more information about Helen of Troy, please visit www.helenoftroy.com.