With the earth running out of many natural resources, the great challenge of our generation is to create a sustainable balance between the needs of people and the resources of the planet. Belu was set up as a social enterprise to use the tools of business to help develop such a sustainable future.
Although tap water is generally the most eco-friendly source of water, in situations where tap water is not available or not the chosen option, and for countries where tap water is not safe, Belu seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of the next most eco-friendly option. Thus far, Belu has successfully created the world’s first carbon neutral bottled water, launched the UK’s first plastic bottle made from corn not oil, promotes PVC-free bottle caps and provides over 40,000 people overseas with access to clean water.
The burning of fossil fuels is rapidly changing the composition of the earth’s atmosphere leading to the warming of the planet. Given the profound nature of this problem, Belu’s top priority has been to reduce our carbon footprint and in so doing encourage the rest of the drinks industry to minimise their impact on climate change.
In their words, " To reduce our carbon footprint Belu is produced in the UK and is not exported overseas. We have light-weighted our packaging, increased our recycling content and developed low-carbon plastic bottles. We also pursue greener manufacturing, shipping and logistics procedures. What we can’t reduce, we offset – making Belu the world’s first carbon neutral bottled water."
In 2006, Belu launched the UK’s first plastic bottles made from the renewable resource: corn. The bio-bottles create fewer toxic air pollutants and have the potential to achieve substantial carbon savings compared to petroleum-based plastic. Belu has also completed initial recycling and commercial composting trials of these bottles as part of their effort to end the legacy of traditional plastic pollution.
|
