Merel Peek - Internship at Dopper

February 2019 - July 2019

For my first internship I was looking for a social enterprise with a mission. And I found Dopper. Dopper is a brand that sells reusable water, tea and coffee bottles. Each bottle sold empowers people to choose reusable over single use. From education programs and research to awareness campaigns. It also kick-starts clean drinking water projects in Nepal.

During my Internship at Dopper I helped them with spreading their mission trough these awareness campaigns and social media. And I learnt how a little change in behaviour, like using a reusable bottle, already makes a major impact.

Awareness campaigns

The Oceanic Plasticarium

Black&White

The plastic soup. You’ve probably heard about it. It’s that mysterious mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean that grows with an estimated 8 billion kilograms each year. High time to turn the tide. Clearing the plastic soup, however, is a massive task. Notice how we didn't say impossible? Exactly. The more we thought about it, the more we realised the answer to clearing the ocean was actually pretty black and white. Literally. That’s why, for our newest addition to the family, we introduced a statement piece. Or rather, two. That’s right, we're adding a new and epic duo. The Blazing Black & Wavy White.

The Oceanic Plasticarium

There’s a lot more to these bottles than just their good looks. They’ve got a story to tell. Remember how we mentioned you’ve probably heard about the plastic soup? Most people have. But the plastic soup is like a dark secret hidden far away in our oceans. Out of sight and out of mind. Until now. Because we put the world’s first Oceanic Plasticarium on display in the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. This cube is filled with 3000 liters of plastic soup, sampled from the Pacific Ocean. It represents a section of the millions and millions just like it floating in our oceans, filled with plastic waste. Its message? We are a part of this problem, let’s be part of the solution as well.

The Answer is Black and White

Do you feel like the plastic soup situation is too big to have any influence on? Think again. The answer is black and white. Allow us to introduce you to our badass Dopper Insulated Blazing Black and its counterpart, Wavy White. With these statement bottles you are doing your part for our oceans. They are Fierce- with a capital F. And so is their introduction to this world. So, are you team great white or killer whale? The white Dopper is the foam on that roaring wave, the shark’s teeth just before its lunch and the chalky rocks on that majestic cliff. Its black counterpart is the bottom of the Mariana trench, the rugged back of the manta ray and the jet-black sky during a Pacific storm. Pretty cool. Even for insulated bottles that will keep your water cold for 24 hours (and hot for 9).

Limited edition style

Wait, there’s even a limited edition? Absolutely. Because in case you were wondering how to claim your part of the oceans to protect, we narrowed it down for you. With a limited edition of our Black and White bottles. We printed unique coordinates on the cups that represent a square of the Pacific Ocean. When you purchase one of these limited-edition bottles, you claim it as your own and protect it from single-use water bottles. Sea? When it comes to doing our part for the oceans, the answer truly is black and white.

The Water Gate Experience

Dopper Original Evergreen

Dopper opened the 'Water Gate Experience' at Schiphol Airport. More than a million people from 180 different nationalities were inspired to drink tap water on their travels. Reminding them that, wherever they travel, to enjoy our waters and protect them from plastic. There are 39 countries in which tap water is a truly safe thirst quencher. And we provided tips and tricks on what you can do when straight from the tap isn't an option. #TapWaterEverywhere

Water facts

Did you know that by drinking tap water you could save around 40 disposable bottles per person per year? These will then not end up somewhere they don’t belong, like in the plastic vortex for example. However, we often still go for a PET bottle. It appears that tourists in the Netherlands still opt for packaged water, even though we actually have excellent tap water. Indeed, our tap water ranks among the best in the world in terms of quality and safety. A missed opportunity! By opting for tap water when you are travelling, you can easily make a personal difference. There are 39 countries in which tap water is a truly safe thirst quencher. So start by putting that Dopper in your suitcase!

A water experience

Visit ‘The Water Gate Experience’ at the Jan Dellaertplein outside Schiphol Plaza from 30 April until 12 May. Immerse yourself in our special water world and join our mission to make the world more waterful. Afterwards, you’ll only want to drink water from the tap. Wanna bet? We hope so, because honestly: Every. Drop. Counts. Keep an eye on hashtag #TapWaterEverywhere for a sneak peek.

Your chance to grab some limited editions

The ‘Water Gate Experience’ also marks the launch of the sale of the limited edition colour of 2019: Dopper Original Evergreen. This dark green bottle is a robust travel companion that loves adventure. Perhaps most important of all: this refillable bottle will also quickly save 40 plastic bottles per person per year. And that’s what it’s all about!

Raise your Glass

Dopper Changemaker Challenge

We all know the recipe for plastic soup. Just add over 9 billion kilos of plastic to the ocean every year. Stir a little. Done! More plastic than fish by 2050. There’s something that needs to be done. So, we did. With the Dopper Changemaker Challenge we started our own thesis award to accelerate the development of solutions that have a big impact on the plastic and water issues we’re currently facing. Because life in plastic? Definitely not fantastic.

Haven’t heard of the legendary competition that is the Dopper Changemaker Challenge? Here’s a short introduction: in this epic battle, students from around the world are competing to win prizes, fame and glory with their graduation project or thesis. The goal? To accelerate the development of solutions to global issues regarding clean (drinking) water and plastic pollution. This year’s challenge didn’t just focus on one country, or even two. This year the Dopper Changemaker Challenge took place in FOUR countries around the world: the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Nepal. BAM! Worldwide impact.