Project 7 water bottles

Not often would I write about bottled water. I’m more of the mind that you should refill a metal (or non-BPA poly) bottle with filtered H20 from the tap. But Project 7, an outfit in Southlake, Texas, has a new twist on the (recyclable) plastic bottle game. Namely, the company (www.project7.com) has pledged to address “the seven most critical areas of need in the world today: Build the Future, Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Help those in Need, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, and Save the Planet.”

To that end, the company says it will take more than 50 percent of profits from its products to create a community piggy-bank. Throughout the year, the company will accept applications from nonprofits that benefit one of the aforementioned seven causes, eventually selecting three finalists for each to award the money.

Regardless of sales during its first year, Project 7 has committed to donating $15,000 to nonprofits supporting each of the seven areas of critical need, totaling a minimum donation of $105,000 in 2009.

The water — which comes in recyclable polyethylene terephthalate bottles filled with locally-sourced water — will soon be available at coffee shops, health food stores and grocery chains around the United States. Go here — www.project7.com — for more info.