6 PureStream in Canada

Team 7 Poster

Team Reflection

Looking into the story of PureStream and its Point of Use Water Cooler system, it made us interested in how a new approach to a common problem can yield important sustainability benefits. A pragmatic solution, this POU system filters water straight from the source, therefore cutting the need for single-use plastic bottles and at the same time cutting down carbon emissions of delivery services. This product aligns with various SDGs, most directly with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The interview with the owner of PureStream taught us a lot on how a sustainability-focused company can apply the SDGs in its business practices. SDG number 3 (Good Health and Well-being) is based on the water being filtered from lead and chlorine which would otherwise make the water not nearly as safe to consume. SDG number 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is the main idea of the company, because the aforementioned filtered water is a way for cleaner water supply for other companies to use, where the water is also free from touch-contamination. This water is therefore more eco-friendly because its product is all about recyclable material that is meant to be used far more than once, which relates to SDGs 12 and 13 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and (Climate Action) as the product is biodegradable, plus carbon emissions are reduced with this product like we mentioned before.One thing that we liked was the simplicity of this innovation. It challenges the notion that sustainable solutions need to be complex or expensive. On the contrary, PureStream shows that effective sustainability can simply result from rethinking how we supply basic needs such as drinking water. This realization led to engaging discussions within our group about the role of businesses in promoting sustainability and how everyday innovations can create meaningful change.

We divided the tasks into three teams with two members to manage the project properly. This helped us in focusing on different aspects of the assignment: one team investigated the story of PureStream, another prepared questions for the interview with the founder, and the third worked on the visual aspect of the presentation. One of the challenges was finding meeting times that would fit all our schedules. Despite this challenge, dividing the tasks helped us in working together. Once our meetings were in session, it did not feel too much like we were working with students from around the world, due to everyone all speaking English. The difficulty in a situation like this, only comes from how we need to effectively communicate with each other on how we can accomplish all the COIL projects so that there is always one submission to the Google Classroom and that we are all making progress on the tasks we have given each other. What worked for our group was taking the advice from our professors during our lectures and applying them into our meetings. Every meeting, we had to determine what we needed to do for the week and make sure that there was no information left unmentioned, because you only get so much time in each free zoom meeting. What did not work was how we rarely talked about tasks we must accomplish in the weeks that follow, where instead we tended to only discuss what we have to do for the current week. Thus, whenever we had several tasks to do in one week such as the final week of COIL, there was a bit of scrambling involved to make sure everything got done to everybody’s standard, let alone done at all. We were very impressed by how PureStream’s POU system not only served clean drinking water but also encouraged responsible consumption. It’s a great incentive for businesses and individuals to reconsider their dependence on plastic bottles, thus showing a change to making more sustainable choices. The idea is connected to our understanding of sustainability in terms of waste reduction and environmental responsibility.

Something we have been considering when thinking ahead to our Post COIL company write-up is what our COIL company could do in the future to promote sustainability even further. We asked during our interview with the company’s owner if the company adheres to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The owner claimed that the company only has other companies as clientele, but we suggested that the company could get involved with the city of Ottawa (where the company is closest to) for it to try and expand on its ecological footprint, so that its clean water can be provided to the common folk in Ottawa. We all feel that this experience is unique compared to what other courses/programs offer and one we will remember as one of the stand-out tasks we were given during our time at university.

Individual Reflections

Shatha Alowais

Looking back at the AIM2Flourish project, I had a very positive experience overall. Working with my group members was a very respectful and collaborative experience; everybody brought different perspectives and ideas, which made our discussions even more meaningful in respect to PureStream and its innovative approach toward sustainability. Everyone was very respectful, so we didn’t face many challenges, but one of the main challenges was to coordinate our schedules, given the different time zones. This sometimes made finding meeting times difficult, but I really was impressed by how adaptive and compromising our team was. We generally would find common ground for the greater part of our meetings and ensure that all voices were heard. I thought that working with a diverse group would be very difficult and Impossible to work with, but this project has Taught me how to work as a team and communicate within a diverse group setting. Which reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration.

Anibal Yance

Reflecting on my AIM2Flourish project experience, I’d say it was a rewarding challenge that taught me a lot about teamwork and sustainability. Working with people from different places to analyze PureStream’s sustainable water solution was eye-opening. It was interesting to see how a company could balance profit with sustainability goals, and it made all those SDGs we study feel much more tangible and real.One of the biggest challenges was dealing with time zones-finding a time that worked for everyone was complicated. But it pushed us to be very flexible and communicate more clearly. Dividing the tasks into smaller teams worked well for us overall, though it sometimes got a bit complicated when roles overlapped, and we had to sync up more than expected. In general this project showed me the value of working across cultures and how much you can learn from other perspectives. I’m definitely taking those lessons forward into personal future projects.

Jordi Borrut

Working on the AIM2Flourish project was both challenging and valuable. PureStream‘s sustainable water solution showed me how being innovative can make a meaningful change, such as when one of our team’s challenges was different communication styles, which was resolved by being open and respectful. Furthermore, this experience shows me how important it is to be flexible and to make sure to be clear about the ideas you are trying to get across, which will be valuable in future projects.

Joud Aljasser

The experience in the AIM2Flourish project was exceptional, rewarding and absolutely extraordinary. It added a great responsibility to me, and working with colleagues in a polite and collaborative environment across different cultures was incredibly enriching. Each of them shared their own perspective and deepened the idea and enriched our conversations regarding the concept of sustainability. Our collaboration was the key to the success of the project; everyone listened and discussed different opinions, thus creating a very good working atmosphere. I learned that it is really useful to have some diversity among the team members, which I did not think before. The contribution of each of them with their different experiences was very motivating and thus enriched the discussions, leading to a better understanding of the ideas related to the project. Engaging in the topic of sustainability also made the global sustainable development goals more tangible and clear. This was not only an opportunity to apply what I learned from an academic perspective, but also a very valuable lesson in teamwork and cultural understanding. I will benefit from these lessons in my other projects, and I can believe in collaboration as a means of achieving results.

Grant Eastwood

Participating in the AIM2Flourish COIL activity has been an incredibly enriching experience, offering me valuable insights into collaboration and global perspectives. Working with people from diverse backgrounds has taught me the importance of understanding different viewpoints and cultural approaches to problem-solving. The collaboration opened my eyes to how collective efforts can amplify creativity and innovation, fostering a unique learning environment. This project deepened my understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showing me how they serve as a universal framework for achieving long-term sustainability. Analyzing PureStream’s initiatives in relation to these SDGs highlighted the tangible impact businesses can have when they align with these goals. The experience reinforced the importance of embedding sustainability into organizational practices and inspired me to think critically about how I can contribute to meaningful change in my future endeavors. Overall, this activity has broadened my horizons and strengthened my commitment to responsible management.