On Sept. 23, 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg delivered an emotional speech at the United Nations, accusing world leaders of stealing her dreams with their inaction on climate change. On Oct. 7, hundreds of young climate protestors took part in demonstrations in Chicago and other major cities worldwide to demand justice for the planet.

Beverage companies and plants also are increasing efforts to further sustainability. For instance, PepsiCo has pledged to reduce 35 percent of virgin plastic content across its beverage portfolio by 2025, which equates to the elimination of 2.5 million metric tons of cumulative virgin plastic, the company says.

Los Angeles-based Crew Bottle Co. is helping bars and restaurants increase sustainability by replacing plastic jugs, plastic quart containers and single-use pre-mixers with its flagship product line Crew Bottle. Co-founded by Marshall Sterling and Kyle McElfresh in August, Crew Bottle was “a response to a glaring void that needed to be filled: products designed through the lens of the industry professional to make establishments safer, more profitable and more sanitary,” Sterling says.

Reducing dependence on single-use plastic options is at the core of the company’s mission. The company also partnered with the nonprofit Plastic Bank to remove ocean plastic with every purchase. “We are trying to attack the problem from both sides,” Sterling says.

The company currently is fulfilling orders in eight countries and is hard at work on its next product line, which is expected to launch in December.

“We want to be a brand that raises the bar for sanitation standards, that empowers F&B professionals to do more, that looks at equipment rather than the next flavor or trend, and leaves the environment better than we found it,” Sterling enthuses. “We want to ask tough questions and work together with establishments to drive positive change.”