Eden Springs, as Europe’s leading office hydration provider, have been working hard to understand the coffee machine industry and the coffee needs of our wide range of customers.
Meeting the demand for cappuccinos, lattes and espressos and supplying the brands you respect and trust – like Kraft, Kenco and Lavazza – has meant that Eden have taken an in-depth look into the coffee culture in the UK and Europe.
“We are confident that customers will love this new offering” said Antonio de Alarcon, vice president of business development. “Eden has worked hard to become a leading brand in the drinking water solutions market, but we are now faced with a big opportunity to position ourselves as the leading provider for full-scale hydration solutions.”
Complete coffee solution
Raanan Zilberman, CEO of Eden Springs, commented: “We realised that we have created an amazing delivery platform for drinking solutions within the work place environment.”
“The provision of a complete coffee solution – across 16 countries – illustrates the confidence we have to look after customers in this area. [It] will also include the provision of other hot drinks such as teas, chocolate and herbal infusions.”
Joe McDermott, Challenge Events Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, describes the experience of the 2012 London Marathon and support from Eden Springs water
On the morning of 22 April 2012, 850 Team Macmillan runners lined up at the start line of the London Marathon in Blackheath and Greenwich, ready to take on the challenge they have been preparing for over the last six months of their lives. Each and every one of runners in their green Macmillan vests – whether it was for a close personal reason or just that they have admired the charity’s work – will have spent just as much time fundraising as training for the run (the London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event in the world), something that Macmillan is keen to repay when it comes around to Marathon week itself.
As well as all of the top notch training and nutritional advice given to every Macmillan runner, in the week before the event Team Macmillan staff are on hand at the London Marathon Expo to give some last minute advice and encouragement to all of the runners who drop by the Macmillan stand and put on a Pasta Party the night before so runners can stock up on those vital carbs.
Hydration and recovery on the big day
On the big day itself, eight cheer points are set up along the route in order to give Team Macmillan runners a motivational boost along the course. Over 400 volunteers come out to the cheer points to support the team, so each cheer point is provided with banger sticks, foam hands and Macmillan t-shirts to be as visible and noisy as possible for the runners! The glug of water kindly provided by Eden Springs is also gratefully received at the cheer points as voices start to get hoarse!
Perhaps the peak of the support given to the runners on the day is at the Team Macmillan Recovery Centre. Runners can stagger here once their marathon journey is complete, to be greeted by a massive round of applause and a massage to help those tired legs recover. There are plenty of refreshments on hand too so runners can stock up on depleted energy levels. Here, too, the Eden Springs bottled water is invaluable to ensure none of the runners succumb to dehydration – especially vital on a day when it was much warmer than expected given the amounts of rain the London Marathon was sandwiched between.
All in all, the 2012 London Marathon managed to smash new records for Macmillan, with a record sized team hopefully raising a record amount of money for Macmillan Cancer Support, ensuring that people across the UK continue to receive emotional, medical, practical and financial support to people affected by cancer across the UK. With the 2013 ballot filling in less than 24 hours, 2013 promises more of the same – visit macmillan.org.uk/londonmarathon for more details.
Thursday 26th April, 2012 by The Eden Water Cooler
Old fashioned water cooler at the New Orleans Mint 1891
The water cooler has been part of office furnishings for some time. Shortly after its inception the office water cooler became standard in most offices, and that’s where many employees gravitated to when they needed to talk about something urgently and not within earshot of the boss. Let’s take a look at the history of the water cooler and its place in the work environment:
History of the water cooler
A water cooler is, pretty obviously, a device that dispenses cool water, and has changed quickly and dramatically since its origin in the early 1900s. In 1906, Halsey Willard Taylor and Luther Haws invented the first drinking water fountain. In 1911, Haws patented the water faucet. Taylor was a sanitary inspector for the city of Berkeley, which enabled him to observe that school children who consumed contaminated water were likely to be in poor health. This motivated Taylor to invent the drinking water fountain. The drinking water process was changed by The Halsey Taylor Company and Haws Sanitary Drinking Faucet & Co., whose intent was to provide purified water. The drinking faucet invented by Haws was the first drinking faucet installed at the Berkeley school department.
So the drinking fountain was created…but it provided drinking water at room temperature. The water temperature had to be cool to kill microorganisms that could contaminate the water, as water coolers did not have a water treatment method to purify the water. The early process of providing drinking water at a cool temperature entailed using big ice blocks to cool the water – this made the water coolers big, heavy and awkward.
The process of the evolution of the water cooler continued. In a relatively short period of time, the water cooler evolved into a lighter, more compact unit. As technology improved, water coolers were equipped with internal purifying systems.
Water and the environment
With advancing technology water coolers have become more environmentally- and user-friendly, contributing to a growing demand both in work and home environments. If you check out the Energy Star ratings of modern water coolers you will find that they use very little energy, and today’s water coolers allow you to reuse bottles up to 50 times rather than discarding them when empty. You can even use be creative and use bottles for building and art projects at the end of their life (otherwise they’re carefully recycled). Alternatively, plumbed in water coolers take water directly from the mains and mean you don’t have any bottles to deal with at all, and are certainly a step up from the drinking fountains of the 1900s.
The office water cooler
The phrase “Meet me at the water cooler” originated in the workplace as water coolers became commonplace thanks to the significant benefits of good employee hydration. The office water cooler became the “hub” for casual conversation and gossip because it was often located away from cubicles or offices – when an employee would want to chat or gossip, he or she would whisper to another employee, “Meet me at the water cooler” so they could talk in relative privacy.
With the new concepts and designs, the water purity, environmental-friendliness, and affordability of today’s water cooler, some would say that it has become more of a necessity than a convenience. Yes, the water cooler has come a long way from its humble origin. So why don’t you “Meet someone at the water cooler?”
When you think of bottled water coolers, the words ‘cool’ and ‘funky’ don’t often come to mind, but there’s one type of water cooler that’s getting a bit of hipster attention – a retro-style ceramic water cooler.
It looks pretty good (that smooth surface just begs you to run your hands over it) but does it do a good job of keeping your water cool and filtered?
People have been using clay pots for ages to store and cool water, but a study has found that filtering with clay will remove between 95 and 99 per cent of E.coli. Maybe the Aztecs and Egyptians were on to a fairly good thing with this simple technology! But maybe it’s not the best solution for a modern workplace…
How ceramic water filters work
The ceramic water filters work by using clay’s natural properties to filter out bacteria which generally can’t pass through the small pores. The filter sits in the top half, while the bottom half contains the filtered water and is fitted with a tap.
Those who like retro have seen it as a good accompaniment to an Aga and retro sink, and it makes an interesting conversation piece when people are gathered around the kitchen table, but does it come up to modern standards?
Well it needs to be filled – it doesn’t simply connect to a mains supply like a plumbed-in water cooler and you can’t attach standard water cooler bottles, so getting hold of the best-quality spring water is going to be a lot more tricky. And while it keeps the water fairly cool you won’t get the ice-cold water on demand like a modern water cooler. Finally, if you’re after safety and cleanliness the self-cleaning of some of our new models can’t be beaten, and there’re no quarterly sanitisation visits for an old-school ceramic cooler!
Moving on
Looking back we can see how water coolers have developed in the last few decades, using the latest technology and materials to become extremely energy efficient and environmentally friendly. While ceramic filters are pretty stylish, those looking for a modern and convenient beverage solution are better off sticking to the latest Eden Springs water coolers!
Eden Springs have agreed to supply handy bottled water to Macmillan Cancer Support’s 2012 Challenge Event participants in a major announcement as part of our UK-wide charity water initiative.
Macmillan fundraisers will be tackling events ranging from the London Marathon to the Great North Swim, with fantastic running, hiking, swimming and cycling events taking across the UK in locations as diverse as Brighton, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and even Loch Ness.
making a real difference
Eden Springs are the UK’s leading bottled water cooler company, and in addition to providing Macmillan Cancer support with water for over 15 events we’re offering 1,000 cases of 500ml bottled water free to individual charity fundraisers in our water donation initiative.
Joe McDermott, Challenge Events Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, explained his delight at the donation from Eden Springs:
We pride ourselves on offering the best support to our team, from the moment they sign up. By providing water at events for our supporters Eden Springs is helping to make sure that the Team Macmillan experience is second to none in Challenge Events.
The support of the participants at these events, and the money they help to raise, makes a real difference to people living with cancer, and this water donation is part of our ongoing commitment to charity and community causes.
Thursday 29th March, 2012 by The Eden Water Cooler
As a Carbon Neutral and low-carbon company we’re committed to recycling and being as ‘green’ as possible. It’s easier than ever to live a green lifestyle, but what can you do, beyond turning off lights and recycling, to show you’re serious about protecting the environment?
1. Greener spending
You can choose where to spend your money so why not spend it with companies who have made a commitment to greener business? Check out companies’ eco-credentials, looking for sustainability, carbon neutrality, recycling and a public commitment to protecting the environment. Buying from a green company will help them with their environmental aims and you will feel better about doing your bit. (Need we mention that Eden Springs is the greenest water cooler rental company around?)
2. Green your media
As part of going greener, you can decide to change the way you consume media. Read papers online instead of buying physical copies. Companies like Eden Springs also allow you to manage your business and invoices online so you don’t need to leave a paper trail behind you.
When it comes to music and films, there are options there too. You can use a streaming service to catch up on films and internet radio for music. And you can even support artists and filmmakers who make the environment a priority.
3. Dress in green (not really!)
What about taking a greener approach to your closet? Just like we reuse water cooler bottles again and again (up to 50 times) for different customers, there’s no reason why many people can’t get use out of the same clothes. In the UK the charity shop is a national institution and some of them are a cut above your average thrift store. These are great places to find a unique and stylish wardrobe at a fraction of the price of something new – and with vintage clothing on its way back you will be in the height of fashion too.
4. Get environmental near you
You can take practical ‘green’ steps in your own town or city. Instead of tut-tutting when you see litter on the ground, walk around with a couple of plastic bags and pick it up. Start a regular clean-up group in your area – it’s a great way to make it more beautiful for everyone and to meet some neighbours too.
5. Travel green
Finally, consider how your travel habits effect the planet. Our office water delivery routes are painstakingly planned using clever technology to be as fuel and energy efficient as possible, and the same mindset can be applied to everyday travel. Perhaps take public transport, cycle or walk to work, and consider whether you really need to jump in the car for that journey down the road.
As the UK’s No.1 water cooler supplier we have an exceptional water delivery network, supplying water from 16 depots across the nation and ensuring you get a truly local service from your nearby branch.
Our water delivery network comprises over 135 delivery trucks and more than 1 million bottles in circulation, constantly being recycled and reused. However because of our local focus you receive water sourced within your area from a nearby depot, meaning we have to travel less – helping to contribute to our industry-leading low carbon and Carbon Neutral status!
Water supplier near you
Our Route Sales Managers deliver your water to your door, and have a great rapport with customers. Operating from regional depots they ensure that your water is never far away – they manage your water stock, delivery frequency and even answer billing queries. Our team do whatever they can to ensure you’re hydrated and happy!
So, contact our team to find out where your local branch is and start receiving your quality local water supplier service today.
Wednesday 21st March, 2012 by The Eden Water Cooler
If you’re looking for a bit of a boost, an easy way to get it is to drink a cup of coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant and there’s nothing wrong with knocking back a cup to enhance your performance at work. But is there a time of day that’s best for drinking coffee? Though the scientists have studied it, the jury’s still out. While we wait for the verdict, here are some suggestions…
Start the day with coffee
A morning cup of coffee is part of many people’s routine, and contributes to the popularity of coffee machines. Recent research among Americans over 18 showed that half of those surveyed drank a cup of coffee every morning, and in the UK we’re not too different. And it’s no wonder; if you’ve had a late night out or are finding it difficult to get out of bed that caffeine hit can make all the difference. A cup of coffee will get your body moving and put your senses on high alert. That’s one of the reasons that some athletes use it as a legal stimulant to improve endurance and performance. That can’t be a bad thing in an office setting either.
A mid-morning boost
Even if you’re OK getting out of bed in the morning, you might experience a pre-lunch slump. That’s a good time to have another cup and harness your productivity once again. A mid-morning cup of coffee also makes for a great social get-together – there’s a reason why coffee mornings are an institution in some areas! Office coffee machines also make great meeting places. Somehow coffee is good for bonding, and that’s probably why even the smell can make you feel good. Research shows the scent of coffee is the second most recognisable smell in the US (if you’re interested, the most recognisable is burning wood).
With a meal
Coffee also makes a great accompaniment to any meal. Many people love to enjoy a cup after dinner, when they’re feeling great and are ready for conversation. It’s the social side of coffee again, so don’t knock it. A word of caution, though – if caffeine stimulates you, drinking it too close to bedtime might keep you awake longer than usual.
Keeping warm
Finally, coffee is a good drink on any cold day. If you’re standing on a train platform in winter, coffee may be the only thing that keeps out the chill. And anytime you have to be out in the cold it’s a good warmer. In summer, when the days are long, you can still get your daily coffee fix but in cold iced coffee form instead.
Image: By Jeff Kubina (Coffee Beans) via Wikimedia Commons
We’re delighted to announce that we’re once again donating 1,000 cases of bottled water to anyone fundraising for charity in the UK following our successful initiative last year.
If you’re an individual charity fundraiser training for or competing in an event you can apply for a case of 12 x 500ml bottles of refreshing Eden Springs delivered to a work address at absolutely no charge. You could be walking in benefit of a local hospice, climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of cancer research or dancing for diabetes support – whatever your cause we’ll help you stay hydrated during your challenge!
Organising a fundraising event or group activity group yourself? Apply for a larger water donation and we’ll also be happy to consider your request on a case-by-case basis.
Helping charities across the UK
Charities that benefited from the initiative include The Children’s Trust, who received water for a range of fundraising events. Angie Turner, Head of Corporate Partnerships (below, left) at the charity, explained to UK Fundraising that “Eden have been fantastic and really help charities around the UK save money on their events.Last year we helped a wide range of individuals and larger events that together raised thousands for fantastic causes.
“We have used the water that was kindly donated at our Sleepwalks around the UK and at our Easter Fair and Summer Fairs. It’s a great initiative and helped us raise more money to help children with profound disabilities around the UK.”
£30 donation to your charity with water coolers
In addition Eden will also continue to donate £30 for every water cooler installation resulting from a water donation to a charity event. If you’re involved in an event and help to promote the great range of bottled water cooler and mains-fed water cooler options Eden Springs provide you can then feel great knowing that any water cooler orders generated have helped to contribute to helping those in need.
Tuesday 28th February, 2012 by The Eden Water Cooler
If you know what’s good for you, you’re drinking lots of water every day. But when you’re enjoying Eden water from a water cooler in London, the UK or Scotland, how much do you think about this element that makes up so much of our planet? Here are some interesting and fun facts about the world’s oceans:
How deep?
When Tina Turner sang River Deep, Mountain High perhaps that phrase should have been ‘Ocean Deep’ because the deepest part of the ocean is far, far deeper than the deepest river. In case you’re interested, the deepest river is the Zaire (or Congo) River at around 750 feet. That pales in comparison to the depth of the deepest part of the ocean. The lowest point on earth is in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean and it comes in at 35,979 feet deep. Just to give you an idea how deep that is, compare it with the height of Mount Everest which is a paltry 29,002 feet high.
The deep blue sea – not!
If you’re wondering what it’s like at the bottom of the ocean forget all the footage you have seen of Jacques Cousteau’s exploration of the blue waters. Light can’t get any further than 330 feet under the surface of the water. That means that the deepest part of the ocean is pitch black – spooky! And did you know that although humans live on land there are more creatures on earth living in the water? That’s because aquatic life represents up to 80% of all life on Earth. Many of these life forms have still not been classified. Some estimates suggest that there may be as many as 50 million marine species that are still to be correctly identified or discovered.
Underwater exploration
Maybe it’s the depths, maybe it’s the darkness, but we still don’t know a lot about what lies under the sea. We actually know more about the surface of planets in space than we know about the ocean floor. The amount of ocean explored so far comes to less than 5% of the total. And what we do know about may blow all our ideas about geography and geology out of the water, if you’ll forgive the phrase.
For example, the ocean is home to a mountain range which covers 23% of the Earth’s surface and has some peaks that are higher than those in the Alps. This is called the Mid-Oceanic Ridge and it was only explored in 1973. The ocean also features volcanoes, hot springs and other geographical features that we are accustomed to seeing on land.
Eden water in your water coolers is sourced from underground aquifers across the UK, supplying beverages to offices across the country: