About KOR
Background
OUR MISSION
KOR delivers sustainable personal hydration solutions. We believe passionately in the importance of clean water to human health and to the health of our planet, and in the power of design to inspire and motivate. In 2005, we saw a serious problem with bottled water. The more we researched the issues, the more clearly we saw that the solution required more than just switching to reusable bottles. People drink bottled water not only for its convenience and taste, but also for the perceived lifestyle associations. Change requires a complete redesign of the water experience, beyond the bottles and accessories and extending even to the source and enhancement of the water itself. We call our mission “Water ReDesigned.™” The KOR ONE Hydration Vessel is just the beginning. Stay tuned.
In addition to creating innovative products that promote sustainable practices, we have a social responsibility mission that we take very seriously. KOR is donating 1% of sales to a select group of non-profits who focus on water-related issues. Our goal is not only to provide much-needed funds to these organizations, but to engage customers on issues such as recycling, sustainable water use, watershed protection and the global water crisis.
OUR VALUES
At KOR we hold ourselves to what we call our “S.E.T.” standards. That is, we strive to be sustainable, ethical and transparent throughout all our business practices. We’re certainly not perfect, but we like to say that “we’re on the path” by setting high standards in these areas and measuring ourselves against them.
1. Sustainable - We seek to employ sustainable business practices, such as reducing the energy needed to produce and transport our products, reducing and recycling our waste, and offering products that help reduce the environmental footprint of our customers.
2. Ethical – We strive to deal with each of our stakeholders, including customers, employees, partners and investors in a fair and ethical manner. For example, we try to ensure that our employees - and those of our vendors – are given fair and competitive wages, safe and non-threatening work environments, and are treated with respect. We also strive to support our community and direct some of our resources to improving the lives of our stakeholders
3. Transparent – We strive to openly communicate on matters of interest to all stakeholders. For example, what materials are used in the creation of our products? Who are the subcontractors involved and what are their scorecards with regard to sustainable, ethical and transparent practices? When we make mistakes do we proactively admit to them and strive to do better?
We pledge to live by our SET standards and work hard to continually improve our performance against these principles.
WHY “KOR”?
KOR is an elemental expression of the word “core,” which refers to the central, innermost, or most essential part. Every person has core values, a core personality, and core aspirations. Some understand their core; others search for their core. To us, water is at the core of physical life.
The KOR logo both resembles a water drop and is inspired by the Chinese concept of yin-yang, which describes two opposing and yet complementary aspects of any phenomenon. Green and blue sides of the KOR water drop join to represent the dualistic relationship and balance of earth and water.
You might notice that the KOR logo’s green and blue arms reach upward to close the water drop but don't quite touch. The gap acknowledges the constant divide between our goals and achievements. Once you're on the path to “being green,” you find there’s always something more you could do – and in the eyes of some you’re never doing quite enough. That’s OK. Finding balance – in ourselves and in the environment – is a continuous process that never truly ends. It only matters that you’re on your way. Thanks to Jorge Hernandez with Vine Creative for bringing our vision for KOR to life through our logo.