How HYDR8 Measures Its Zero Waste Mission: The Numbers and the Method

As of September 22, 2026, we estimate that HYDR8 water machines have replaced about 132 million single-use plastic bottles since 2017, and that our water, coffee and pantry programs have diverted an estimated 3.4 million pounds of waste. These are modeled estimates, not audited figures. Below is exactly how we calculate them, with every constant and source.

The numbers, as of September 22, 2026

As of September 22, 2026, HYDR8 water machines have replaced an estimated 132 million single-use plastic bottles since 2017.
Across all five impact streams, HYDR8, CAFFEIN8 and ELIMIN8™ have diverted an estimated 3.4 million pounds of waste since 2017.
In 2026 through September 22, we estimate 27.2 million bottles replaced and 700,000 pounds diverted.
In 2025, our last full year, we estimate 34.3 million bottles replaced and 886,000 pounds diverted.
On September 22, 2026, 4,059 HYDR8 machines were in the field: 3,665 counted as water, 183 as sparkling and 377 as coffee (some machines serve more than one stream).
Estimated progress toward our four goals: 2.6% of 5 billion single-use bottles replaced by 2050, 13.2% of 1 billion single-use bottles replaced by 2035, 42.2% of 8 million pounds diverted by 2030, and 6.8% of 50 million pounds diverted by 2040.

How the math works

Every Stream 1 to 3 figure can be reproduced from the machine-years in our data file and these labeled constants.

Machine-years. A machine-year is one machine in the field for a full year, counted in weekdays. A machine counts from each installation until its next pick-up, so one installed July 1 counts as about half a machine-year, and a reinstalled machine counts again. 2026 counts 189 of its 261 weekdays, through September 22. For 2017 to 2019 we use estimated machine-years: HYDR8 estimates of 100, 150 and 200 water machine-years (HYDR8 began operating in April 2017). Machines HYDR8 installed count whether HYDR8 or the customer owns them.

Stream 1: bottles (HYDR8 still water). Each machine serves 17 people, a HYDR8 assumption based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 average of 16.71 employees per business location. Each person counts for 2.6 half-liter bottles a day: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that U.S. adults averaged 44 oz of plain water a day in 2015 to 2018, and 44 oz divided by 16.9 oz is 2.6. A year has about 250 business days (260 weekdays less federal holidays).

Bottles = machine-years × 44.2 bottles per day × 250 days. Pounds = bottles × 0.0248 lb (11.25 grams).

Stream 2: cans (HYDR8 sparkling). Gallup found in 2012 that 48% of U.S. adults drink soda daily; we round to 50% and apply it to soda and sparkling water together (HYDR8 assumption). Gallup’s daily soda drinkers averaged 2.6 glasses; we round down to 2.5 and count each as a 12 oz can (HYDR8 assumption).

Cans = machine-years × 21.25 cans per day (17 × 50% × 2.5) × 250 days. Pounds = cans × 0.0286 lb (12.99 grams, the average across can sizes in the Aluminum Association’s 2021 can life-cycle assessment summary).

Stream 3: pods (CAFFEIN8 coffee). Each person drinks 1.5 cups of coffee a day (HYDR8 estimate informed by National Coffee Association data), and we assume 75% of offices would otherwise brew single-serve pods (HYDR8 estimate). Flavia and Lavazza freshpack brewers count at half weight, since freshpacks are still single-serve packaging (HYDR8 estimate). Machines that brew from commercially compostable pods get full pod credit, even though each cup still uses a pod; commercial composting is not available everywhere.

Pods = machine-years × 19.125 pods per day (1.5 × 17 × 75%) × 250 days. Pounds = pods × 0.0132 lb (6 grams of pod packaging: plastic cup, lid and filter, not coffee grounds; HYDR8 estimate).

Machines that pour still and sparkling water count half in each of Streams 1 and 2, and keg dispensers count half in each of Streams 2 and 3 (HYDR8 estimates).

Streams 4 and 5: ELIMIN8™ disposables and snacks. These count the conventional plastic that was never made, net of shipping packaging, from HYDR8 sales records. Stream 4 counts PLA cold cups, fiber plates, bowls and containers, lids, compostable utensils, PLA straws and wood stirrers, at 50% of case weight less 1 lb of shipping packaging per case, and never below zero for any product. Paper products whose conventional alternative is also paper (napkins, paper towels, facial and bath tissue, cup sleeves and paper hot cups) are not counted. Stream 5 counts packaging, never food: 10% of case weight at 50% credit for snacks in commercially compostable wrappers, and 3 grams for each one-ounce single-serve bag replaced by bulk trail mix in commercially compostable bags, including bulk trail mix sold under CAFFEIN8. Conventional bulk candy is not counted. Case weights come from our product records, and the factors are HYDR8 estimates. These streams are small: 1,518 of 886,000 pounds in 2025.

What we leave out, and what we assume

What we leave out pushes our figures down:

Paper labels, shrink-wrap and multi-pack film, delivery truck emissions, weekend and holiday use, and any change in habits at home.

What we assume pushes our figures up, or could go either way:

Each person’s whole-day water intake (the CDC’s 44 oz includes water drunk away from work) is credited to the HYDR8 machine at work on every business day, as if it replaced single-use bottles. Some would otherwise have come from a tap, a fountain, a five-gallon jug cooler or a reusable cup.
All 17 people are credited at every machine on every business day. We make no allowance for remote or hybrid work, time off, the 2020 to 2021 office closures or school calendars. Every 10% of people absent on an average day would lower our totals by about 13 million bottles and 340,000 pounds.
17 people per machine is a HYDR8 assumption based on a national average; the true figure may be higher or lower.
We apply the same office assumptions to schools, hospitals and wall-mounted units.
These are gross figures. We do not subtract the filters, CO2 cylinders, coffee bean bags or service trips our machines need.

These are modeled estimates, not audited figures. We publish both sides so you can judge the balance.

Goals and progress

Goal	Target year	Progress as of Sept. 22, 2026
5 billion single-use bottles replaced (Stream 1)	2050	2.6%
1 billion single-use bottles replaced (Stream 1)	2035	13.2%
8 million pounds of waste diverted (all five streams)	2030	42.2%
50 million pounds of waste diverted (all five streams)	2040	6.8%

Frequently asked questions

Does this count bottles or pounds?

Both. The bottle goals count single-use water bottles replaced by HYDR8 water machines. The pound goals count the estimated weight of single-use items and packaging replaced across all five streams. By “diverted” we mean our estimate of single-use packaging that did not need to be made or bought because of our programs, not waste collected or recycled.

Where does the data come from?

HYDR8 installation and pick-up work orders by equipment serial number, from 2020 through September 22, 2026; HYDR8 sales records for ELIMIN8™ products; and the constants above.

Can I use these figures for ESG or sustainability reporting?

No. They are fleet-wide modeled estimates, not figures for any one customer or location, and they are not meant for regulatory, investor or ESG reporting.

Is this audited?

No. These are modeled estimates, not audited figures, as section 9 of our Terms of Service states. We publish the method, every constant and the yearly machine-years, so the Stream 1 to 3 figures can be recomputed; Streams 4 and 5 also use per-product case weights from our records.

See the live numbers

The live dashboard at sustainability.hydr8.us shows the latest figures, every constant and a downloadable data file with the yearly totals. See what point-of-use water and coffee could look like in your office.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fast Facts: Data on Water Consumption (NHANES 2015 to 2018).
U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB), 2019: an average of 16.71 employees per business location.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Federal Holidays.
Beverage Marketing Corporation, analysis for the International Bottled Water Association (2014): average 16.9 oz single-serve PET water bottle, 9.25 grams. The source does not say whether the figure includes the cap.
Gallup, Nearly Half of Americans Drink Soda Daily (July 2012).
The Aluminum Association, Aluminum Can Life Cycle Assessment Report Overview (2021): 12.99 grams average across can sizes.
National Coffee Association, National Coffee Data Trends.