Reimagining the Beverage Value Chain: How Aquivio is Tackling Plastic Waste, Inefficiency

As global conversations around sustainability intensify, the beverage industry remains one of the most visible contributors to plastic waste and carbon emissions. From bottled water to functional drinks, the current system relies heavily on centralised production, extensive packaging, and long-distance logistics.

For Aquivio, the issue goes beyond reducing waste. It is about fundamentally redesigning how beverages are produced and consumed. “We are basically decentralising the wasteful and inefficient beverage ecosystem,” said Daniel Hill, Co-Founder of Aquivio, in a conversation with CarbonWire.

A system built on inefficiency

The traditional beverage supply chain is inherently resource-intensive. Water is bottled, packaged, transported, and stored, often travelling significant distances before consumption.

Hill is direct in his assessment of the model. “It makes absolutely no sense the way we have been doing it… with large beverage plants, trucks carrying water from A to B, when actually the possibilities to make it at the point of use are so much more efficient.”

Aquivio’s solution is to shift production to the point of consumption. Its IoT-enabled systems function as “micro beverage factories”, producing drinks on demand using municipal tap water. This approach eliminates multiple layers of inefficiency, from bottling to distribution.

Tackling plastic waste at scale

Plastic waste from single-use bottles remains a persistent challenge, particularly in urban markets across Asia. Aquivio’s model removes the need for single-use packaging entirely. Consumers use reusable containers, while beverages are created instantly at dispensing stations.

Hill notes that the impact is measurable. “We are saving up to 30 times the amount of packaging waste… and a single machine can save up to 30,000 plastic bottles, depending on the location.”

Beyond packaging, the system reduces emissions linked to logistics. By eliminating the need to transport finished beverages, particularly water, the model addresses one of the most carbon-intensive aspects of the value chain.

Data as a lever for sustainability

A key differentiator in Aquivio’s approach is its use of data. Each dispense is tracked through a cloud-connected system, generating insights into consumption patterns. This enables operators to adjust offerings based on actual demand.

“When you start analysing what the market really needs and what consumers really want, you’re preventing overproduction of products that might not even be wanted,” Hill explained.

In contrast to traditional beverage models, which rely on projected demand and mass production, Aquivio’s system enables real-time, demand-led production. This not only reduces waste but also positions the platform as a form of live market intelligence.

The behavioural challenge

Despite the environmental and operational advantages, adoption is ultimately driven by behaviour. “The biggest challenge is the shift of mindset,” Hill acknowledged. Consumers remain accustomed to the convenience of bottled beverages, and changing these habits requires more than sustainability messaging.

Aquivio’s approach is to make the alternative more attractive on multiple levels. Users can customise beverages with functional ingredients such as electrolytes, vitamins, and caffeine.

“If an end consumer gets a healthier, customised drink at a lower cost than bottled water, it becomes a natural choice,” Hill said. This combination of personalisation, cost advantage, and sustainability is designed to accelerate adoption, particularly among younger consumers.

Making sustainability economically viable

One of the key barriers in climate technology is the perceived trade-off between sustainability and cost. Aquivio’s model seeks to align both.

“Sustainability at scale must become profitable, and it will become profitable. It’s just a question of the right solution being implemented,” Hill said.

For businesses, the system can function as a revenue-generating asset through integrated payment and membership models. For consumers, it offers a lower-cost alternative to bottled beverages.

This alignment of incentives is critical for scaling adoption across markets.

Towards decentralised beverage infrastructure

Looking ahead, Aquivio positions itself not as a beverage brand but as an infrastructure provider. “We see ourselves as a platform, a network provider, an infrastructure solution for smart venues and smart cities,” Hill noted.

The company’s vision is a decentralised network of intelligent dispensing systems embedded across urban environments, from offices to public spaces. With expansion underway across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Japan, the model aligns with broader trends in smart city development and ESG-driven infrastructure.

A shift from mitigation to redesign

Aquivio’s approach reflects a broader shift in climate innovation, from incremental improvements to systemic redesign. By rethinking how beverages are produced and consumed, the company addresses not just the symptoms of environmental impact, but its underlying causes.

As Hill put it, “It is never possible to fight an existing system. It is only possible to improve it so much that it becomes the natural choice.”