“Clean Ocean, Clean Drinking, Clean Conscience”
Earth, our blue home, is suffocating under the weight of discarded plastic, wreaking havoc on marine wildlife and vital ocean ecosystems. The crisis is so dire that envisioning a plastic-free planet seems unimaginable. Yet, there are people alive today who were born into a world almost devoid of plastic. It's astonishing how rapidly and profoundly our planet has transformed in just over a century.
In the mid-1800s, the quest for a new material to replace precious and costly ivory began. Plastic emerged as an inexpensive alternative and quickly gained popularity. By World War II, plastic production had grown nearly fourfold. Post-war, plastic manufacturers shifted from producing military equipment to consumer goods like water bottles. By the early 1950s, plastic bottles, being cheaper, lighter, and easier to ship, began to supplant glass in commercial use.
Incredibly, half of all plastic ever produced has been made in the last 15 years. While plastic has revolutionised medicine and space travel, what was once a solution has become a problem. The convenience of plastic has led to a culture of disposability. Today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced annually. Items like water bottles, wrappers, and carrier bags are used for mere moments but persist for generations.
Every piece of plastic ever made still exists. In 1997, Captain Moore's voyage from Hawaii to California revealed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive gyre of swirling ocean currents that collect plastic debris. Now, this patch is three times the size of France and has its own developing ecosystem. It is one of five major oceanic garbage patches. Up to 80% of the plastic in our oceans is transported from land via rivers.
Plastic pollution is most visible in less affluent Asian and African nations, where waste management systems are often ineffective or non-existent. Annually, 8 million tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into our oceans, equating to a truckload every minute. This is catastrophic for marine ecosystems and our planet.
Enter NEO WTR, a group of innovative thinkers tackling the plastic pollution crisis. Their philosophy: there is already enough plastic in the world; why create more?
NEO WTR is the first drinks brand in Europe to use 100% prevented ocean plastic for their water bottles. This plastic is collected from at-risk coastlines in Indonesia, the world’s second-largest contributor to ocean plastic pollution. With 17,000 islands, Indonesia has extensive coastlines, and plastic waste here quickly reaches the ocean due to the lack of safe drinking water and recycling management. The forecast predicts that by 2050, our oceans will contain more plastic than fish.
Thanks to NEO WTR’s efforts, these vulnerable coastlines now benefit from new recycling management systems and economic opportunities for local communities. NEO WTR offers high-quality British spring water, bottled at source in Somerset, UK. Their water is rich in minerals, filtered through organic land, and packaged in a fully recyclable bottle, label, and cap. As they say, “Clean ocean, clean drinking, clean conscience.”
We commend NEO WTR for their innovative product and steadfast commitment to protecting our planet. Their efforts resonate deeply with our values and mission.
