Belu (company) facts for kids
Belu Logo
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Selection of Belu drinks
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| Social Enterprise | |
| Industry | Water Filtration, Water/Drinks |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Reed Paget |
| Headquarters | London |
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Area served
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UK, France, Hong Kong |
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Key people
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Natalie Campbell (Co-CEO), Charlotte Harrington (Co-CEO) |
| Products | Water Filtration Machines, Mineral Water, Tonics and Mixers |
| Revenue | £7.1m (2023) |
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Number of employees
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24 (As of Feb 2024) |
Belu is a special kind of company in the UK called a social enterprise. This means it's a business that works to solve social or environmental problems, not just to make money. Belu sells mineral water, tonic water, and other mixers. They also provide filtration systems for businesses.
Belu's main goal is to change how people think about water. They promise to give 100% of their profits to WaterAid. WaterAid is a charity that helps people around the world get clean water and proper toilets. Belu also focuses on making sure their mineral water has important natural minerals.
Contents
How Belu Started and Grew
Early Days and Green Ideas
Belu was started in 2002 by a filmmaker named Reed Paget. He wanted to create a bottled water company that was better for the environment. Reed was very passionate about protecting the planet. He encouraged other companies in the drinks industry to think about their impact. This included how they got their ingredients, made their products, and packaged them.
In 2006, Belu launched the UK's first ever compostable plastic bottle. This was a big step for being eco-friendly.
Becoming a Social Enterprise
In 2007, Belu officially became an environmental social enterprise. This meant their main purpose was to help the environment. In 2010, Karen Lynch joined Belu as a new leader. She helped Belu become well-known in hotels and restaurants across the country.
Belu also worked hard to reduce its carbon footprint. By 2010, they had cut their carbon emissions by 22%. This shows their commitment to being green.
New Leadership and Partnerships
In 2020, Natalie Campbell and Charlotte Harrington became the new Co-CEOs of Belu. They aimed to expand Belu's water filtration services. They also wanted to take Belu's products to new countries outside the UK.
Belu teamed up with Ocean Bottle in 2020. Together, they launched a reusable bottle. For every Belu Ocean Bottle sold, money goes to collect plastic from polluted coastal areas. This helps stop thousands of plastic bottles from reaching our oceans.
In 2021, Belu launched new flavored mixers and tonic waters. That same year, they started their first overseas water filtration work in Hong Kong. Belu also updated its goals to match the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Their new 10-year goal is to change how the world views water.
Investing in Nature
Belu decided to invest in nature-based solutions in the UK. This means they put money into projects that help nature, instead of just paying to offset their carbon. They started with the area around their mineral water source in Wales.
Belu works with several groups to support projects. These projects help with goals like clean water, responsible production, climate action, and protecting life in the oceans. Some of their partners include WaterAid, Thames21, The Rivers Trust, and the Blue Marine Foundation.
A Great Place to Work
In 2022 and 2023, Belu was recognized as a "Great Place to Work." This means their employees are happy and feel supported.
Since 2011, Belu has given £5.8 million of its profits to WaterAid. They have an agreement to give all their profits to WaterAid. Belu is also a member of Social Enterprise UK, a group that supports social businesses.
Belu is proud of its efforts to be sustainable. They say that over 108 million bottles have been made into new Belu bottles using recycled materials. They also claim to have reduced their business's carbon impact by 69% since 2010.
Belu's Products
Belu offers different products, including mineral water, filtration systems, and tonics and mixers.
Mineral Water
Belu's mineral water comes from a special source in the hills of mid-Wales. The water flows through ancient volcanic rocks, which naturally adds important minerals to it.
Their glass mineral water bottles are made in the UK. They use lightweight glass with at least 35% recycled content. These bottles can be recycled again and again. You can find their still and sparkling water in different sizes, from small to large.
Belu also has bottles made from 100% recycled plastic (RPET). These bottles are light, easy to crush, and fully recyclable.
To keep their carbon footprint small, Belu gets, bottles, and distributes their mineral water only within the UK.
Filtration Systems
Belu also provides water filtration systems for businesses like restaurants and offices. These systems help businesses offer filtered water. Belu provides different machines and payment plans. They can also supply reusable bottles, add company branding, and offer regular maintenance.
Tonics and Mixers
In 2021, Belu launched a new range of tonics and mixers. Their green glass bottles are special because they use over 70% recycled material. This is more than any other tonic or mixer brand!
Their new range includes:
- Classic Tonic Water
- Light Tonic Water
- Garden Tonic Water
- Fiery Ginger Beer
- Glorious Ginger Ale
- Lively Lemonade
- Sunny Soda Water
