How Bauwatch ditched plastic and got their team drinking more at work

Sector: Security and Investigations · Location: Boom, Belgium · Team size: 40+

Day in, day out, Bauwatch employees go above and beyond for their clients. But internally, the office experience wasn't keeping up. Plastic water bottles were the norm, with zero variety — not exactly the most sustainable or inspiring way to get through the working day.

Bauwatch knew they could do better. Not just for the planet, but to give something back to the people who show up and give their best every day.

The trigger: growth you can feel in the office

Bauwatch grows by at least 30% every year. More colleagues, more international meetings, more movement on the floor. On busy days, the single kitchen quickly became a bottleneck when two groups of people tried to get water, coffee or a soft drink at the same time. Not ideal.

The solution? A proper coffee corner so everyone could find their own way around.

"Dripl wasn't the reason for the renovation it was the natural, inspiring addition to a bigger project. The right choice, at the right moment," says Kelly Maes, the driving force behind the switch at Bauwatch.

In fact, Kelly was already sold before Dripl even came into the picture. At home, she's been adding ginger or lime to her water for years, because hydration should be enjoyable, not just functional. For her, Dripl wasn't a big behaviour change. It was a way to bring something she already did at home to thirty colleagues. Simple, but powerful.
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How Kelly got the conversation going

One or two days before installation, Kelly put up an announcement in the kitchen. It immediately sparked conversations over lunch, everyone was excited before the device even arrived.

Kelly quickly became Dripl's first ambassador. She introduced every new user personally, let them taste, and asked for honest feedback a few months in. She treated it as a real investment to be evaluated, not a gadget to be forgotten.
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A second Refill Point? Didn't take long.

Bauwatch started with one Refill Point downstairs at the coffee corner in July 2025. Kelly initially wasn't sure a second device was needed, but a few months later, one went in upstairs too.

The next international meeting settled any remaining doubt. When a group of visitors takes over the coffee corner, it's simply better if people can top up upstairs without pushing through the crowd. The second device proved its value almost immediately.

Seasonal use: honest and flexible

Hydration habits change with the seasons. In winter, colleagues reach for tea or coffee more often, and the numbers reflect that. What works well about the Dripl system is that you choose how many flavour cartridges you connect. Kelly plays this smartly: running two flavours per Refill Point in winter and scaling up to four as spring arrives. A setup that moves with her team's needs.
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Dripl as part of a bigger picture

Dripl didn't arrive in isolation. Kelly combined it with a broader shift: other drinks now come in glass bottles, and colleagues are encouraged to bring a reusable bottle to the Refill Point. Her reasoning is as simple as it is effective: there's no point bringing waste from home just to throw it away at work. Dripl isn't a standalone initiative. It's one step in a bigger story, from someone who genuinely thinks about her team and the planet.
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More impact than expected

After just two days, Kelly was already checking the counter on the device. The number of packaging units avoided was already higher than she'd expected — and the office wasn't even fully occupied at the time. The effect went beyond the numbers too: people are simply drinking more water. Colleagues follow which flavours get tapped the most and spontaneously share feedback on their favourites.

🏆 Top 3 flavours:

1. Raspberry Grapefruit
2. Ginger Lime
3. Peach White Tea
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International buzz

International guests are consistently impressed. A wide choice of flavours, with zero waste — they don't have that at home. Colleagues from the Netherlands are already pushing to get Dripl in Assen, and there's enthusiasm coming from the UK too. Kelly doesn't need convincing anymore. She's become a genuine Dripl ambassador. In her own words:

"A small switch, and a positive contribution to the climate. On top of that, you get a great range of choices — and Dripl's communication and service are a real added bonus."

Bauwatch recommends Dripl without hesitation. The smooth installation, fast response times and straightforward communication with the service team make it a no-brainer.
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Ready to make the switch?

Bauwatch shows that moving to sustainable hydration doesn't have to be complicated. With the right approach and a system that grows with your organisation, you'll notice the difference from day one.

Curious what a Refill Point could do for your office?

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