Pettigrew Associates Eliminates Plastic Water Bottles Company-Wide

‘A bold step in our sustainability efforts’
Hobbs, NM – September 4, 2025 – Pettigrew & Associates announced a bold step in its sustainability efforts: eliminating single-use plastic water bottles across all offices and job sites. Effective immediately, the company will exclusively provide Open Water, a 100% recyclable aluminum alternative, to employees and guests. This decision reflects Pettigrew & Associates’ long-standing commitment to engineering better, healthier communities. By making the switch, the company is joining the global movement to reduce plastic waste and keep millions of bottles from ending up in landfills and oceans.

“Every project we deliver is about creating a better future for our community,” said Debra Hicks, PE/LSI, President & CEO. “Eliminating plastic water bottles is a small but powerful step we can take as a company to protect our environment and lead by example. We are proud to partner with Open Water, a brand that shares our values of sustainability and responsibility.”

While the initiative represents a higher upfront cost compared to traditional bottled water, Pettigrew & Associates recognizes that the long-term benefits—cleaner communities, healthier oceans, and a lasting culture of sustainability—far outweigh the difference.

“As much as this is about protecting our planet, it’s also about protecting our people,” said Tres Hicks, PE/PS, Executive Vice President and Principal Surveyor at Pettigrew & Associates. “Plastic bottles break down into microplastics that can end up in the water we drink and the food we eat. By removing plastic bottles from our company, we’re safeguarding the well-being and safety of our employees while doing our part to combat the spread of microplastics.”

This change builds on Pettigrew’s ongoing environmental initiatives, including a cardboard recycling program, replacing all lighting with efficient LED systems, a company-wide reuse mindset for supplies, encouraging reusable mugs and cups in place of single-use waste, switching to sustainable/compostable paper products, and installing energy-efficient hand dryers to reduce paper towel waste.