Electric heating and hot water products manufacturer Heatrae suggests its water dispenser, SuperChill, can help combat plastic usage.

This comes as students at Brighton College campaigned for a reduction in the use of plastic on campus after seeing its impact on the environment in the Blue Planet II series on BBC One. Greenpeace estimate that 12.7 million tonnes of plastic bottles, bags, and microbeads end up in the ocean each year.

Headmaster of Brighton College, Richard Cairns, revealed that his staff will begin to hand out sanctions such as organised beach cleaning for those who continue to use such items following the ban. He said he wanted to make single-use plastic bottles as much of a taboo on campus as cigarettes.

Ethan Thompson, Product Manager at Heatrae, suggests its chilled water dispenser could be helpful to companies looking to reduce their plastic usage. The SuperChill chilled water dispenser is available in three versions, including the SuperChill 30F, an alternative to bottled water coolers. The product also offers an optional filter accessory and, supplied with its own spout, can be installed alongside existing taps. The SuperChill is plumbed into the mains water supply and has a chilled water capacity of up to 30 litres per hour.

Thompson said: “We’re beginning to see large companies commit to the reduction of single-use plastics in the food industry, and it’s brilliant to see that schoolchildren are going to their teachers and telling them that they want to help with these efforts.

“Additionally, the Government is throwing its weight behind initiatives that promote green living, with a focus on reducing the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in UK landfills.

“This is the perfect opportunity for specifiers, school leaders and facilities managers to recommend or install plumbed in drinking water solutions on their premises.

“Plumbed-in drinking water units are vital as they offer a continuous supply of cold, filtered water on demand, whilst offering a superior taste in comparison to tap water. They are the perfect location at which to fill up a reusable bottle.”