This World Water Day (22nd March), ethical hydration brand, One Water, celebrates raising £30 million in partnership with The One Foundation. The multi-million pound fundraising milestone, achieved through sales of bottled water, corporate partnerships and donations, has helped to change the lives of over 5 million people around the world, bringing access to safe, clean drinking water for rural and urban communities and responding to humanitarian emergencies.Safe clean water on tap is often taken for granted, with the average person in the UK using 152 litres of water per day. Yet around the world, more than 1,000 children aged under five die each day from illnesses caused by unsafe water and sanitation.
There are still 703 million people globally who lack access to safe, clean drinking water, including a shocking 115 million who still collect untreated surface water from lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. These people survive on as little as 5 litres for all of their daily needs, whereas just one flush of a toilet typically uses 5+ litres of water.
Marked annually on 22nd March, World Water Day is a United Nations Observance Day, inspiring action to tackle the global water crisis, to support the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensuring availability of water and sanitation for all.
One Water and The One Foundation were founded by ethical entrepreneur, Duncan Goose back in 2004. Having returned from a round-the-world motorbike adventure, he was inspired by a photo in the Guardian newspaper of a young girl sitting next to a padlocked tap in Nairobi. Goose began his journey aiming to change just one life, one day at a time – hence the brand name.
By purchasing any of One’s products, a donation is made to The One Foundation to fund life-changing water programmes. This includes Co-op who have worked with The One Foundation for more than 15 years, donating 3p per litre from sales of Co-op branded water, significantly helping to reach the £30 million milestone.
The funds raised are invested across two key sectors, currently focused in Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi and Kenya: implementing large scale urban water systems and handpump repair in rural communities. And responding to humanitarian emergencies worldwide. The ambition of The One Foundation is to fund self-sustaining water solutions, to help create a world in which everyone has access to clean, safe water, forever.
One Water was one of the UK’s first “brands with a purpose” and Goose’s vision of clean water for everyone has always been its ‘north star’. But as well as its core mission, the brand has always had the planet at its heart. A founding UK B Corp, with values based on using business as a force for good and minimising its environmental impact, One Water certified carbon neutral almost 10 years ago and supports 1% For The Planet.
Goose commented: “Having set out to change just one life, to have changed 5 million is an incredible milestone and one that would not have been possible had it not been for all our partners, customers and the wider public who’ve been buying One water over the years. I would particularly like to recognise Co-op who have been such a significant part of our journey and given so much over the years, as well as Starbucks and World Duty Free and all the other partners who share our vision for a fairer world. My hope is that One is recognised for all it has done and becomes a truly global brand for change.”
All One Water products are certified Carbon Neutral to Scope 3. Their British spring water is available as still or sparkling in a range of packaging options, including cans, cartons, glass, 100% recycled plastic bottles and refillable formats. And they have recently launched One Hydration – a range of water supplements to improve hydration at work and play.
One Water is currently available in Co-op stores*, Holland & Barrett, NISA, Starbucks, Whole Foods Market, World Duty Free, other leading hospitality and convenience outlets and major wholesalers including Bidfood and Brakes.
