Water is a renewable resource that allows both humanity and the environment to successfully survive. With water making up 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, one would believe that it’s easily accessible. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Currently, 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. As a result, this issue has contributed to the rise of single-use plastic water bottles.  LARQ is a company changing this statistic through the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle. Their products are changing the beverage and travel industry to allow consumers access to water no matter where they are. As best said in the words of LARQ,  “Access to clean drinkable water is not a privilege, it’s a right.”

LARQ offers various purification products depending on one’s needs. This includes the Bottle PureVis™, the LARQ bottle filtered, or water pitchers for home use. Moreover, LARQ sells accessories that customers can customize their bottles with such as a travel sleeve or an active loop. The color palette for the water bottles features minimalistic options of Monaco Blue, Obsidian Black, Seaside Mint, Granite White, and Himalayan Pink. Each color choice again refers back to the company’s agenda of helping the environment. Each product utilizes technology that eliminates 99% of bio-contaminants.

As for the LARQ pitchers, plant-based Nano Zero filters are used to remove chemicals such as Chlorine from water as well as contaminants such as Lead. Another unique feature of the LARQ pitchers is the free LARQ app which allows consumers to track their water intake as well as when they need to replace their filter. Moreover, this app is helpful for those who struggle with staying hydrated or have a difficult time remembering when to replace their filter to ensure an optimal water experience.

The story behind the company LARQ begins with Co-founder and CEO Justin Wang and his love of the environment. Justin’s love for the outdoors led to him frequently going hiking or camping but he soon ran into the problem of water. Even with avoiding single-use plastic water bottles, Justin found that the reusable bottles he used during his outdoor excursions would often mold and as a result, have to be thrown away. After researching the issue with reusable bottles, Justin found that the current design of them as well as the overwhelming percentage of single-use plastic bottles within the beverage industry was the root cause. The next step for Justin was to work with his co-founders and establish a reusable water bottle company that could solve these issues through technological advances within the industry. In 2017, LARQ was launched on Kickstarter, and with 1.4 million dollars in funding, the company became an instant success. At this point, however, the company was named QUARTZ but due to trademarking issues, the team came up with the word LARQ to perfectly describe the company’s mission.

Product Comparison

After testing the insulated LARQ Bottle Filtered in the color Granite White for a week, it’s evident that the technology designed for each product works effectively and smoothly. Now, there are three different bottles available which include the LARQ Bottle PureVis™, the LARQ Bottle Movement PureVis™, and the LARQ bottle filtered. The difference between the LARQ Bottle Filtered and the Bottle PureVis™ is the technology used to purify the water. The LARQ Bottle Filtered uses a Nano Zero filter which needs to be replaced every two months or after 40 gallons of water is used. The lid also features a flip top which provides an easy drinking experience. As for the Bottle PureVis™, this water bottle features a cap that cleans the water with the touch of a button or automatically every two hours. Now, for those who want to upgrade their LARQ Bottle Filtered, a PureVis™ Cap can be purchased and switched out for the cap that traditionally comes with the bottle. As for the LARQ Bottle Movement PureVis™, this bottle is non-insulated making it light and more adaptable for outdoor activities while the LARQ Bottle PureVis™ contains double-wall insulation. Each of the three purification bottles purifies the same amount of contaminants but differs only in regards to the consumer’s specific needs.

Setting Up the LARQ Bottle

After opening the LARQ Bottle Filtered, the set-up is quick as the product comes with directions that are easy to read and include diagram pictures. The first step to putting the bottle together is to run the provided filter under water for ten seconds. After this, one simply attaches the filter to the capsule that holds the filter and connects it to the drinking straw to lock it into place. Once the bottle is put together, one can fill up the bottle with tap water and drink clean water with no worry as to the taste or bio-containments that resided within the tap water. As someone who struggles to drink water throughout the day, using the LARQ bottle made it easier to stay hydrated, especially when I wasn’t at home. I also found that I purchase single-use water bottles significantly less as I could simply refill my LARQ bottle at a water fountain instead. As for the design of the bottle, the Granite White provides a minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing color.

Sleek Design

As for the design of the bottle, the Granite White provides a minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing color. There aren’t any distracting patterns or wording except for LARQ which is delicately displayed along the side of the bottle. This is what allows for a truly sleek design for each bottle. I also tested the active loop and movement sleeve accessories that to customize the LARQ Filtered bottle. The active loop provides an easy handle to hold while either walking with the bottle or to clip onto luggage while at the airport. As for the movement sleeve, it’s made of food-grade silicone which allows and comes in the color choices of coral, marine, onyx, and vert. The color selection allows one to change the visual aesthetic of their bottle to add a layer of customization. Personally, I also enjoyed the extra grip of the material that the movement sleeve provides while holding the bottle.

Impact on the Travel Industry

LARQ’s self-filtering water bottle products are revolutionary within the travel industry due to the ease of access to fresh water. For travelers who plan to visit countries where clean drinking water is only accessible through single-use plastic such as in Peru, the LARQ bottle solves this issue. The bottle also provides ease of travel while at the airport or during transportation to and from a location. Moreover, reducing one’s use of single-use plastics allows for the sector of sustainable travel to grow.

LARQ is a unique company to provide clean drinking water to consumers based on their specified needs. The LARQ Bottle Filtered is a great beginner bottle from the company that provides a minimalistic design while on the road. For those who want to completely eliminate the need for a filter, the LARQ Bottle PureVis™, provides just that. Each bottle is customizable with accessories that enhance the functionality and design of the product. After testing LARQ’s product and gaining an understanding of how their bottles work, it’s evident that they are essential for those who travel or want to reduce their impact on the environment.