ALMOST A THIRD OF PEOPLE ON EARTH DON'T HAVE RUNNING WATER AT HOME, NOR ACCESS TO GOOD SANITATION.
LESS THAN 10% OF THE 300 MILLION TONS OF PLASTIC PRODUCED EACH YEAR IS RECYCLED.
AT WATER UNITE WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
We have an ambitious plan to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for clean water, sanitation and waste management. By buying products from a Water Unite partner, you will be investing in safe, sustainable water services for people who need them most, alongside projects to improve recycling schemes globally.
Together we can raise the funds needed to end water poverty and substantially reduce plastic pollution by 2030.
THE WATER PROBLEM
Safe drinking water and sanitation are the foundation for healthy lives and communities. But almost a third of people on earth still don't have running water at home, and over 750 million people have to rely on unsafe water sources¹. Toilet access is even worse. 2.3 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation, at home or anywhere else². To make real change, we need a massive increase in worldwide water investments, targeted to the people who need them most.
THE WASTE PROBLEM
The wide range of environmental problems caused by plastic are attracting increasing concern and attention. Of the 300 million tons of plastics produced worldwide every year, only 9% are recycled³. Remaining plastic waste contributes to polluting water sources such as rivers and travels to the ocean. In response, a new “plastics economy” is emerging to ensure that plastics never become waste, aligning with the principles of the circular economy.
THE WATER UNITE SOLUTION
At Water Unite we believe that everyone can help. We are setting up a global fund for both water and waste, based on voluntary donations from products sold by retailers and brands. Water Unite aims to raise US$100-$200 million in the next 2 years⁴. If every retailer and brand joins up, we could raise billions to end water poverty and address the plastic problem - investing to create sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene systems and better recycling schemes around the world.
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NEWS
PLASTIC AND SOLID WASTE CIRCULARITY - PILLAR 4 OF WATER+
WATER UNITE IS COMMITTED TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
17 ambitious benchmarks for human development agreed by world leaders at the UN in 2015. We are uniting for:
Achieving the goal is a massive task and will require a quadrupling of investments in water and sanitation services.
Goal 12 – Responsible consumption and production
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Goal 14 – Life below water
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris.
Statistic from Fig 1 World Health Organisation Graphic 2015 >
2. Statistic from Fig 2 World Health Organisation Graphic 2015 >
3. Statistic from Fig 1.6 UN Single-Use Plastic - A Roadmap for Sustainability >
4. Water Unite is the result of several years of research and consultation. For more information please visit the resources page