themarketingpeople, Author at The Water Dispenser & Hydration Association

WHA Members gathered on Thursday 26^th September at Brandon Hall Hotel, Warwickshire to attend the AGM and General Meeting, network with colleagues and suppliers and support the designated WHA charity Just a Drop.

WHA Supplier Members took spaces to exhibit their products: 4 Aces, AA First, Allpure, Crystal Mountain, Fillongley Spring, Droople, Go-Pak UK, Noyantis, Petainer, Procooler and Watercare.

The Market

At the March 2024 Conference, Richard Hall of Zenith Global had reported the following guide to the UK market:

No real increase in unit numbers
40 bottles per dispenser and growing but not back to pre-covid levels
Mains-fed dispensers held 46.9% of the marketing, with bottled water dispensers at 41.5% and integrated tap systems at 3.4%
There was small market growth of 7.3%, with bottled water dispensers on the decline and mains-fed and integrated tap systems growing in market share

Now 6 months later the market continues to expand with new products and customers requesting more than basic models.

New Code of Practice and Revised Bylaws

In April, the WHA had introduced a new Code of Practice with a wider remit to include boilers, refill stations, HoReCa products and ITS. This was now complemented with a change in the Association Byelaws, designed to attract members from a wider range of hydration and related sectors.

WHA Organisation 2024/25

The WHA continues to put Members first and the Executive Council works hard to ensure that the industry grows and develops whilst maintaining its standards and associated audits and training.

Jon Wicks, BWT UK is to continue as Chair with Matt Stimpson, Thirsty Work as Deputy Chair taking over as Chair at the 2025 AGM. A new Deputy Chair elect would be confirmed in 2025 and the membership were assured that the WHA remained in good hands.

WHA Vision

The WHA vision remained to be “The Authority on Water Dispensers and Hydration Products in both Commercial and Domestic Environments” and putting Members first.

The WHA continued to promote its standards both within its membership and to customers.

Thanks were extended to the WHA Team, Phillipa Clow, Tracy Corroll and Joe Hislop; the Executive Council; the Marketing and Communications Committee and the Technical Training and Audit Committee.

WHA Executive Council 2024/2025

Jon Wicks, BWT UK Chair & Director

Matt Stimpson, Thirsty Work Deputy Chair

Richard Martin, BWT UK Treasurer (non-voting) & Director

David Albers, Ape20

Peter Benson, AA First

Caroline Elliot, Crystal Mountain

Nigel Elwick, Three Sixty Sales

Rebecca Farrow, Countrywise Water Coolers

Lloyd Fletcher, Culligan UK

Cath James, Eden Springs UK

Michael O’Donoghue, Aquaid Watercoolers

Matthew Orme, Wenlock Spring

James Skelton, Office Watercoolers

GENERAL MEETING

Representatives from the Technical Committee gave reports on progress throughout the past year, including a number of important and informative industry related technical documents including:

Poly and Per-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) – Their dangers and impacts
Electricity at Work – Safe working practices
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Ingress Protection and Corrosion (IP Ratings) – Suitability of location
Micro-plastics and nano-plastics in dispensed water – Their dangers and impacts

The coming year was destined to be busy, bringing more membership benefits, information on up-coming legislation, industry specific training and audits. A consultation will be circulated to WHA members shortly on Regulation 4 compliance and appropriate action will follow.

Representatives from the Marketing & Communications Committee reported on the growing membership and plans for 2025 including development the WHA social media plan as part of the overall marketing strategy.

Guest speakers were George Clark, City to Sea and Scott Elliott, Andy’s Man Club.

4 Aces, a leading provider of food service packaging solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its “Closing the Loop” initiative, aimed at making a significant positive impact on the environment. Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders, 4 Aces now offers support with comprehensive recycling and composting solutions, ensuring that its products have a sustainable end-of-life plan.

Educating for Sustainability

At 4 Aces, we believe that education is key to fostering sustainable practices. We provide our customers with the knowledge and resources needed to make environmentally responsible choices. By partnering with us, customers gain access to expert advice on waste reduction and recycling guidelines.

Our Partnerships

Our partnerships with industry leaders are instrumental in achieving our mission to close the loop on food service packaging waste. Here’s how some of our key partnerships work:

co-cre8:

co-cre8 is a paper cup recycling scheme designed to encourage businesses to recycle the equivalent weight of paper cups they place on the market. Membership benefits include:
– UK-wide collection coverage
– Customisable cup collection units
– A tracking system for accurate cup collection data
– An online member portal for easy management and reporting
– Proposed DEFRA Take Back Scheme membership in 2025

How co-cre8 Works:
1. Sign up to gain access to a nationwide collection service and expert guidance.
2. Install customisable cup collection units at your premises, supported by a tracking system.
3. Utilise the online portal for data management and recycling reporting requirements.

Veolia:

Veolia specialises in waste management and ensures responsible recycling of products to minimise environmental impact. Their “Stack it, Pack it, Post it” coffee cup recycling service offers:
– Internal bins for cup disposal
– Nationwide collection and reprocessing
– Improved carbon footprint and recycling performance
– End-of-life recycling services for disposable cups

How Veolia Cup Recycling Works:
1. Gather used coffee cups and utilise Veolia’s specially designed bins.
2. Pack collected cups securely in a cardboard box with a clear plastic liner.
3. Contact the recycling team to schedule a collection by a dedicated courier.

First Mile:

First Mile offers an easy-to-use, sustainable service for nationwide compostable product recycling. With a focus on reducing waste and minimising carbon impact, they provide:
– Waste conversion into fertilisers
– 7-days-a-week collection
– B Corp Certification for ethical business practices
– Low-cost recycling boxes for easy disposal

How First Mile Works:
1. Receive prepaid return boxes that transform into smart recycling collection bins.
2. Fill the boxes and schedule a prepaid courier collection.
3. Returned boxes are processed to separate materials and convert compostable waste into biogas and liquid digestate for fertiliser.

Partner with 4 Aces for Sustainable Solutions

When you partner with 4 Aces, you’re not just choosing a packaging supplier; you’re joining a movement towards environmental sustainability. We support our customers throughout the process by connecting them with the appropriate waste collection partners. We often participate in the initial calls to help discuss and explore the best options. Once a suitable solution is agreed upon, a direct agreement is established between the customer and the provider.

Together, we can make a difference by closing the loop on food service packaging waste and building a greener future for generations to come.

For further information, please visit www.4acesltd.com or contact our team directly.

Author: themarketingpeople

WHA 2024 AGM & GENERAL MEETING