International Bottled Water Association | NEWS RELEASE | November 10, 2016
Irwindale, CA executive earns national award at industry conference
Nashville, TN – The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) today announced that Phyllis Rokus, of PolyCycle Solutions based in Irwindale, California, has won its prestigious Shayron Barnes-Selby / IBWA Advocacy Award.
Ms. Rokus was handed the award at IBWA’s Annual General Meeting as part of the 2016 IBWA Annual Business Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
In making the announcement, IBWA Board Member and Convention Committee Co-Chair Dan Kelly said the award celebrates exemplary advocacy by an IBWA member or nonmember whose advocacy efforts have had a positive impact on the national/global conversation about larger public policy issues important to the bottled water industry.
According to Mr. Kelly, “Phyllis Rokus is a woman many of us in the bottled water industry have known and respected for a long time.
“For many years, Phyllis has spent a lot of time and energy helping IBWA educate members of Congress about the bottled water industry. In 2015 and 2016, she particularly highlighted the unjustness of the National Park Service policy that allows park units to ban the sale of bottled water,” said Mr. Kelly.
“Phyllis’ help to IBWA extends to other issues,” said Mr. Kelly, “especially recycling and environmental sustainability.
“In 2014, 2015, and 2016, she spent many hours helping the association plan Environmental Sustainability Tours, which provided a valuable recycling education to many IBWA members,” said Mr. Kelly.
This is only the second time IBWA’s Advocacy Award has been awarded. However, IBWA’s award program has been recognizing the efforts of bottled water industry professionals to advance the industry and promote healthy hydration since 1963.
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Media Contact:
Jill Culora
jculora@bottledwater.org
703.647.4609
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters, including spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and sparkling. Founded in 1958, IBWA’s membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, to set comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water products.
In addition to FDA regulations, IBWA member bottlers must adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices that in some cases are more stringent than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice is a mandatory annual plant inspection by an independent, third-party organization.
IBWA is proud to be a partner with Keep America Beautiful and a supporter of Drink Up, an initiative of former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which encourages Americans to drink more water more often – whether from the tap, a filter, or in a bottle. Choosing water is always the healthy choice.
