Owala® FreeSip® Bottle Named To TIME’s List Of The Best Inventions Of 2023
Lehi, Utah (October 24, 2023) – Today, TIME revealed its annual list of the Best Inventions, which features 200 extraordinary innovations changing our lives—including the Owala® FreeSip® water bottle.
To compile the list, TIME solicited nominations from editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields—such as AI, green energy, and sustainability. They then then evaluated each contender on a number of key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.
Of the new list, TIME’s editors wrote: “The result is a list of 200 groundbreaking inventions (and 50 special mention inventions)—including the world's most powerful supercomputer, a game-changing entertainment venue, and a new shape—that are changing how we live, work, play, and think about what’s possible.”
The wildly-popular Owala FreeSip water bottle—which features the patented, sip-or-swig FreeSip® spout—is recognized in the Fitness category. The invention is the brainchild of Steve Sorensen, CEO and co-founder of Trove Brands, LLC. Sorensen also lays claim to another industry-leading invention, the iconic BlenderBall® wire whisk, found only in BlenderBottle® brand shaker bottles. The impetus for the Owala FreeSip bottle stemmed from observing BlenderBottle customer behavior.
“We noticed that many people were using their BlenderBottle shakers as everyday water bottles. So we thought, why not make a really great, dedicated water bottle?” said Sorensen.
The company’s market research showed a clear divide in water bottle users. “You have the straw people, and you have the spout people,” explained Sorensen. “That seemed like a pain point that needed fixing. You should be able to have it all in a single bottle—and in a simple and stylish way, not in an overstated way with cumbersome gizmos and parts.”
He took it as a personal challenge to come up with an idea that would serve everyone who drinks water—sippers and swiggers alike. Enter the patented FreeSip spout, which enables users to sip with the bottle held upright through a hidden, integrated straw, or tilt the bottle back to swig through a wider opening. The transition between drinking modes is seamless.
Of course, it requires relentless work and next-level talent to take a product from initial concept to production and, in turn, to this point of recognition from such an esteemed media resource. In that regard, says Sorensen, the team at Trove Brands is unsurpassed.
"We have some of the best and brightest creatives who embraced this product, taking it from concept to market by incorporating innovative functionality, style, and a seemingly endless array of colorways. The result is a bottle that elevates the experience of one of life’s basic requirements: hydration. The Owala FreeSip bottle—paired with our uncommon and irreverent marketing—allows people to express themselves in a way that makes staying hydrated uniquely personal and fun. It makes hydration anything but basic."
The unique FreeSip spout is not the only standout feature of the Owala FreeSip bottle. It boasts an easy, push-button open lid and an integrated carry loop that doubles as a lock. It’s also leak proof, insulated (24 hours cold), and easy to clean. And it comes in an array of charismatic colors and sizes designed to suit every personality and hydration need.
Since launching in March 2020, Owala has become the fastest-growing brand in the already-saturated water bottle market nationwide. The FreeSip bottle has earned more than 40,000 five-star reviews, and—as a testament to the marketing team’s disruptive approach—the hashtag “#owala” has been viewed over 272 million times on TikTok.
“Suffice to say, we succeeded in creating a really great bottle,” says Sorensen. “We’re immensely honored by this recognition from TIME and deeply grateful to our legions of loyal fans of the brand.”
See the full list of winners here: time.com/best-inventions-2023
Learn more about Owala and the award-winning Owala FreeSip bottle here: OwalaLife.com
About Trove Brands
Trove Brands is a privately-held house of brands including BlenderBottle®, Owala®, Whiskware®, and EcoBrite™. The company’s patented and best-selling products are designed to simplify and improve everyday life with unexpected innovation, incomparable quality, and aspirational style. Trove’s brands are sold in over 100,000 retail locations across 100+ countries, including Amazon.com and online at blenderbottle.com, owalalife.com, whiskware.com, and ecobriteclean.com. The Trove Brands global headquarters is located in Lehi, Utah. For additional information, visit TroveBrands.com.
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Media Contact:
Holly Bennett