LEXINGTON, KY – The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is excited to highlight its ongoing sustainability initiative in partnership with Fill it Forward, a purpose-driven platform for reusable products. Through its NASPO Gives Back program, event-branded reusable bottles are distributed at NASPO conferences each year, engaging more than 2,400 attendees and helping reduce single-use waste while supporting charitable giving.

NASPO has partnered with Fill it Forward since February 2024, integrating Cupanion Bottles, which are made from 50% recycled content and manufactured in North America, into its flagship events, including the NASPO Annual Conference and the NASPO/PPA Exchange. Each bottle offsets its production emissions after just two reuses, making it a high-impact addition to large-scale event programming.

“Offering the bottles as a branded swag item allows us to give attendees something practical while reinforcing our commitment to sustainability,” said Sydney McEntee, Conferences and Events Coordinator at NASPO. “Fill it Forward has become a consistent and impactful element of our conferences, supporting both our sustainability goals and our mission to give back through every event.”

NASPO places the reusable bottles near conference registration and uses posters and stickers at water refill stations throughout each event to encourage participation. Attendees can track their refills in the Fill it Forward app, creating measurable environmental impact and generating charitable donations with each reuse.

A particularly unique element is NASPO’s creative approach to bottle design. Each conference features a uniquely branded, themed bottle that matches the conference’s branding, serving as both a practical item and a collectible memento.

As a leading procurement association committed to advancing sustainable purchasing practices across its membership, NASPO views the program as an extension of its organizational values. In 2025, that commitment was recognized when NASPO received the Fill it Forward Changemaker Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility category – an honor celebrating organizations that align their business practices with ethical and socially responsible values.

About NASPO: NASPO® is a non–profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence, and integrity. It is made up of the directors of the central purchasing offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. NASPO is an organization that helps its members achieve success as public procurement leaders through the promotion of best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies. www.naspo.org

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Media Contact:

Kate Davila
Creative Accounts Director
NASPO
kdavila@naspo.org