‘YOU CARRY YOUR BOTTLE, WE HAVE THE REFILL POINTS’

What is Carry Your Bottle? We all have
been in the situation where we end up spending cash on purchasing bottles of
water from the stores. We end up using too many plastic bottles during a day,
week our lives. Is there a solution to this problem?

Founder and Director of Carry Your Bottle Ram Doultani also
known as Shanto by his friends has already established a brilliant and creative
idea where one can refill their bottle at different water refill points in Goa
and Karnataka.

It is not a story with a touch of Newton sitting under an apple
tree; instead substitute that with a man relaxing on the beach.

“I was relaxing by the beach and was getting angry with the
litter caused by the single use plastic bottle. I have been using and
travelling with a reusable bottle for more than 8 years now. And thought the
solution is simple where all can benefit including Mother Earth,” says
Doultani.

The intention of the Carry Your Bottle project is to create
awareness in people to start carrying a reusable bottle and to reduce single
use plastic.

Doultani shares an incident of his childhood that also helped
him initiate the idea, “I remember while walking back from school we as kids
would easily walk into a restaurant to drink water or refill our school
bottles. Somehow, I see as we grew up we stopped carrying our tiffin (lunch
boxes) and water bottles. If we start to change our habits a little, we can
surely reduce the packaging waste that is being created.”

Doultani established the organization and began urging people to
come forward at public water refill points or private water refill points in the
campus. Ryan Volda, owner of Bunkd Hostel, Anjuna who is also a part of this
venturesays “the main concern of the people is provision of clean water.
Previously, we had a cooler for which we would charge a small amount for
refilling of the bottle but now, I have officially set up a refill point with
the help of Carry Your Bottle.”In last three year of working of Carry Your
Bottle, the organization has setup a distribution network to supply bottle to
super markets, boutiques, stores, yoga schools and resorts. They have also
ventured in EcoWorld, Goa since last year which is part of the company dealing
with other products to reduce single use plastic. Along with the minimization
of plastic, the organization also manufactures products such as paper straws, steel
straws, bamboo straws, 100% Biodegradable tableware, Biodegradable Takeaway
solutions, bamboo toothbrushes and bamboo cotton buds.The team comprises three
people who look after the day to day operations and couple of freelancers who
support in marketing and designing.

“In the beginning, it was difficult to explain people what will
the idea profit, but day by day the idea is accepted more widely. Even then,
“many people buy packaged water,” says Vikram Raghavindra who is the Operation
manager at Villa Blanche Bistro, Assagao. “But with time, it will make an
impact,” shares Raghavindra.

Doultani narrates the example of Purple Valley Yoga Retreat
wherein every guest that is checking-in is provided with a reusable steel
bottle and also mention that they can refill their bottle. Currently there are
20 active refill points in Goa under the leadership of Doultani and two in
Karnataka. These refill points are spread across Goa.

One such place is Wellness Inn which is located in Ashvem.
Ananad Prem, owner of Wellness Inn is very happy about this initiative and
feels that it is the best option to reduce the use of plastic.“We have sold
around 500 steel bottles which also means that we have saved 10,000 plastic
bottles,” says Ananand. His future plans involve the promotion of more products
to reduce single use plastic.

Doultani
states, “My dream is to have more, Water Refill Points across Goa and to create
water ATM with private or public support, so next time when you go out, you
know where to refill your bottle.”