Client Success Story
Purpose Meets Partnership at WEFTEC
At WEFTEC 2024 in New Orleans, something truly powerful happened: purpose met partnership, and together, they activated thousands of attendees around a shared goal—eliminating single-use plastic and creating a lasting global impact.
The Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), is North America’s largest annual water quality event. Known for delivering world-class education, training, and leadership, WEFTEC made a bold statement about sustainability. In 2024, the conference took a meaningful step by encouraging all attendees to bring reusable water bottles and partnered with Fill it Forward to support that mission—making every refill count while helping to fund a charitable giving project that aligned with WEF’s mission.
“This year, we focused on eliminating plastic water bottles at WEFTEC in New Orleans and encouraged everyone to bring their refillable water bottles to the conference. We chose Fill it Forward as a partner because it offered the opportunity to support a charitable giving project that aligned with WEF’s mission— one that participants could continue to engage with during and after the conference every time they refilled their water bottle, while tracking their impact.
I’m happy to report that the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center reported that 27,000 bottle refills at the bottle filling stations throughout the venue—which is a record!”
Stephanie D. Jones
Managing Director, Event Strategy
Water Environment Federation
A Powerful Onsite Activation
More than 5,000 Fill it Forward stickers were distributed through an engaging on-site activation. Passionate ambassadors helped attendees set up the Fill it Forward app, scan their refills, and learn about the impact of their actions. At the conference, each scan helped fund clean water initiatives while tracking personal and collective environmental impact—turning everyday hydration into meaningful action against single-use plastics.
As attendees refilled their bottles throughout the conference, they weren’t just reducing waste and hydrating—they were contributing to something greater. Together, participants unlocked $5,000 in donations to support Wine to Water’s school WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programs to communities in need.
This milestone was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Xylem, whose leadership and commitment to sustainable innovation brought the initiative to life. Their support demonstrates the powerful role corporations can play when they align their values with purposeful action and how sponsorships can go far beyond branding to create lasting change.
A Collective Achievement
What made this initiative truly impactful wasn’t just the record-breaking refill count or the funds raised—it was the spirit of collaboration behind it. By combining WEF’s vision, Xylem’s leadership, and Fill it Forward’s engaging technology, WEFTEC 2024 proved that sustainability is a shared responsibility—and a collective success.
That commitment didn’t go unnoticed. In 2024, the Water Environment Federation received the Changemaker Award from Fill it Forward, recognizing them as a true Sustainability Trailblazer. This accolade celebrates organizations that lead with purpose, reduce waste, and drive environmental progress across their industries.
WEFTEC 2024 set a new precedent for sustainable events. Together, we showed that when mission-driven organizations, conscious sponsors, and purpose-led technology come together, real change happens—refill by refill.
