by Colin Craig, MBA, CSRIC®

Have you ever paused to reflect on how great a blessing it is to have access to cold, clean, refreshing water whenever you want?  Water is one of life’s essentials that we take for granted until we notice that it is not readily available. I, for example, am most keenly aware of this basic human need while longing for a glass of cold water during a hot summer morning run.

And while most of us in developed countries like the United States live with immediate access to clean water whenever we want, we know that many people around the world lack access to this vital natural resource.  In fact, last year the World Health Organization reported that “1 in 4 – or 2.1 billion people globally – still lack access to safely managed drinking water, including 106 million who drink directly from untreated surface sources.”¹

Recognizing this need, Beacon Wealth Consultants previously partnered with a non-profit Christian organization providing water wells to impoverished communities in West Africa (read more here).

While we are thankful for this important partnership, we also recognize that a vast global unmet need remains.  And since our primary responsibility as a company is stewarding our clients’ wealth and investments as fiduciaries, we must ask ourselves: can this unmet need be addressed through for-profit, publicly traded companies?  With a resounding “yes!”, let me introduce you to one of our portfolio companies that we are happy to spotlight today as a Shining Light Company!

Move, Improve, and Enjoy

Headquartered in London, United Kingdom with an American main office in Golden Valley, Minnesota, Pentair PLC’s business is centered on water. The company’s mission statement to “help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource” undeniably sets the trajectory for the business at large.² In fact, each of these categories – move, improve, and enjoy water – describes Pentair’s primary business segments corresponding with Pentair Flow, Pentair Water Solutions, and Pentair Pool, respectively.³

Far from being merely a corporate slogan used in glossy marketing material, this mission statement – which effectively describes the firm’s main business segments – reflects the organization’s broader purpose statement: “to create a better world for people and the planet through smart, sustainable water solutions.”⁴  Let’s take a closer look at how Pentair aims to create a better world through its move, improve, and enjoy business segments.

MOVE – In order for water to be useful, it must be movable – safely, reliably, and with precision. To address this need, “Pentair Flow optimizes the movement of essential resources to enhance communities and industries while protecting people, property, and the future of our planet.”⁵ From providing home professionals with reliable home water supply and disposal solutions, to reducing agricultural chemical overspray via Pentair’s precise irrigation solutions, the product offerings in this business segment are multifaceted and potential impact is vast.

For example, as noted in a recent sustainability report, Pentair implemented new Aurora HVAC and water supply pumps to its North Aurora, Illinois manufacturing site in 2025, allowing the company to reduce electricity consumption by 6% in 2025 compared to 2024.⁶ Since these pumps are manufactured on-site at the North Aurora facility, this is not only evidence that Pentair believes in the use of its own products, but this also indicates that Pentair’s products have the capacity to help customers achieve greater energy efficiency and meet sustainability targets.

IMPROVE – The quality of water goes hand in hand with its usefulness and usability. To address this need, Pentair’s Water Solutions aims to improve the quality of its customers’ water and ice while minimizing environmental impact. And the impact is eye-opening.

For example, Pentair estimates that it has helped its residential water filtration system customers avoid 40 billion single-use plastic water bottles since 2021. Put another way, Pentair helped avoid sending approximately 500,000 metric tons of plastic to landfills in the form of single-use water bottles!⁷

In addition to reducing plastic waste, Pentair also improves the quality of drinking water for customers. Residential filtration systems like the RainSoft Ultrefiner Elite and Everpure PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) Reductions Systems reduce PFAS and related chemicals, while reducing chlorine, taste and odor issues, and lead.⁸ By reducing potentially harmful contaminants such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), Pentair is able to help safeguard water quality, giving customers greater confidence that their water is safe for consumption.

ENJOY – As a pool owner myself, I know that backyard swimming pools have the potential to bring families and friends together to enjoy one of summer’s finest recreational activities. But, as my fellow pool owners also know, swimming pools can be expensive to maintain due to the cost of electricity required to power the filtration system, not to mention the chemicals that are regularly needed to keep the pool clean and swimmer safe.

Considering this, Pentair Pool strives to deliver “innovative energy-efficient pool solutions” to enable sustainable well-being.⁹ Pentair Pool’s innovative pumps, lighting, and heating products are designed to reduce energy consumption, thus helping pool owners cut down on electricity costs.  In fact, in the most recent sustainability report, Pentair noted that “450,000 metric tons of CO₂e emissions may be avoided by US consumers through our energy-efficient pool pumps, heaters, and lights sold in 2025, equivalent to approximately 61,000 homes’ energy use for one year.”¹⁰

In other words, energy efficiency is a top priority for the Pentair Pool business segment.

Responsible Supply Chain Practices

While Pentair helps customers MOVE, IMPROVE, and ENJOY water, it is worth noting that all these business segments are heavily dependent on supply chains residing upstream from Pentair. This raises a vital question for us as faith-based investors: how does Pentair ensure that its supply chain (materials and parts) is responsibly sourced?  In the spirit of Micah 6:8, which instructs God’s people to “do justice, and to love kindness,” this question is of paramount importance.

While no company nor supply chain is perfect, we see value in a company that clearly articulates a commitment to responsible supply chain practices. Pentair works closely with its suppliers to foster compliance with its Supplier Code of Conduct and Global Supplier Guide, which provides requirements pertaining to relevant environmental and social topics. Similarly, Pentair screens potential suppliers based on governance, social and environmental topics, and regularly completes on-site and off-site supplier audits to verify compliance with its Code of Conduct.¹¹

Within its Supplier Code of Conduct, Pentair providers suppliers a copy of its Conflict Minerals Policy (an SEC-required reporting policy regarding minerals from mines within countries that are controlled by armed militias) along with guidelines on other human rights-related topics such as human trafficking and slavery.  Pentair utilizes a third-party to assess exposure to conflict minerals, and if conflict minerals are detected within its supply chain, Pentair strives to mitigate the associated risks.¹² Good products require good and responsible supply chains.

Shining Light Companies make Good Products

At Beacon Wealth Consultants, we are thrilled to help our clients invest in companies that are making a difference in the world today.  These Shining Light Companies are businesses that – we believe – are demonstrating strong servant leadership, living out the golden rule in their business practices, demonstrating a commitment to strong corporate governance, caring for God’s creation via environmental stewardship, and creating compelling value through the products and services that are offered.

While each of these categories are indispensable, it is important to point out the interconnected nature of these ideals, which is particularly evident in companies like Pentair.

For example, for Pentair to operate its business practices responsibly (i.e. exemplifying golden rule characteristics), the company must demonstrate a commitment to strong servant leadership.  From the top down, Pentair’s servant leaders must establish a culture of resilient corporate governance – leading to ethical supply chain policies and practices. And the company’s leadership, through effective mission and purpose statements, sets the broader trajectory for the specific products that are designed, manufactured, and sold to customers, ultimately creating compelling value for all stakeholders along the way. And, as we have seen above, many of these products are specifically designed to steward creation well by minimizing energy use and purifying water – while meeting customer needs, simultaneously.

Companies that meet unmet human needs, like Pentair, are companies that help society to flourish. These are companies that we are proud to own! If you are interested in learning more about how your investment portfolio can make a positive impact in the world today by investing in companies like Pentair, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!

Sources

1. https://www.who.int/news/item/26-08-2025-1-in-4-people-globally-still-lack-access-to-safe-drinking-water—who–unicef
2. https://www.pentair.com/en-us/about-pentair.html
3. https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/enterprise/digital/enterprise-pages/pentair-sustainability-report-2025.pdf
4. https://www.pentair.com/en-us/about-pentair.html
5. https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/enterprise/digital/enterprise-pages/pentair-sustainability-report-2025.pdf
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.