Water in a Tetra Pak format isn’t just a trendy design, the packaging offers a lot of advantages over the traditional single use plastic bottle or aluminum can, which are not made from renewable materials. Flow’s cartons are currently made from 68% renewable materials , and while it’s cap may look and feel like plastic, it is actually made with sugarcane and is 100% biodegradable.  The Company’s  goal is to develop a 100% renewable pack by 2030. 

Making the package is also a more eco-friendly process. Flow says its cartons boast a carbon footprint that’s four times lower than plastic, five times lower than aluminum, and more than eight times lower than glass. Flow is also committed to making its processing more efficient to minimize the resources used. That includes using renewable energy sources and carbon offsets for net zero emissions and a goal of recycling 98% of processing water by 2025.

What really sets Flow apart is the beverage company’s commitment to sustainable water management. It works with ecologists and hydrologists to monitor the springs and surrounding habitats where Flow’s naturally alkaline water is sourced. Then, Flow takes steps to minimize its impact by improving production efficiency and committing to minimum sustainable usage of those springs. Currently, it extracts just 2% of total water capacity from springs per year, a minimal usage rate meant to ensure that the spring can continue to provide safe, clean drinking water for generations to come. 

First certified in 2017, the sustainable water brand now ranks among the global top 5% of certified B corporations, making the annual “Best for the World” list in 2021 and 2022 along with companies like Patagonia. With an overall impact score of 126.5 in its latest impact assessment, the company is going above and beyond the minimum standards needed to qualify. 

B Corp certification is one of the most rigorous and comprehensive measures of a company’s whole social and environmental impact. To be certified, a company must go through an in-depth review process that scores its business across a comprehensive set of ESG standards including environmental management practices, eco-friendly operations, community engagement, workplace safety, worker-friendly business models and a positive impact on local economies. 

Even if you’re not digging into the reports, B Corp is a handy screening tool for finding companies that are the most committed to ESG standards. B Corp certified stocks like Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY), Natura (NYSE:NTCO), and Lemonade (NYSE:LMND) are easier to screen according to an investor’s personal ESG priorities because B Lab maintains public profile pages on each certified company, breaking down its performance across five impact categories.