Young grad’s company uses water bottle sales to provide water for those in need

When we applauded Chi Omega for making their annual Chi-O Crush a little greener last month by recycling the water bottles and pizza boxes that otherwise would have gone into the trash, we received some feedback from Bears who thought that their action didn’t go far enough. They urged Chi Omega (and all university groups) to instead encourage drinking from reusable water bottles in an effort to be truly green.

Pangea Bottles — founded by 2008 Baylor graduate Kevin Henry — is taking that idea a step further. Not only does the company sell reusable bottles, but a portion of their revenue goes toward drilling wells in villages around the world to provide clean water for those who lack such a source. Pangea has partnered with Living Water International, a Houston-based Christian nonprofit that organizes the drilling of wells. It costs LWI just 98 cents to provide clean, safe water for one person for an entire year. Based on those numbers, for every bottle sold, Pangea gives a person in need clean water for four years.

What an idea: a business model built not only on environmental sustainability, but also on making a difference for others all over the globe.

Sic ’em, Pangea and Kevin Henry!