NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

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WATER: WHY WE NEED BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL

By Usha Rao-Monari (Vice-Chair)  Originally posted on LinkedIn: In preparing to attend the World Water Week gathering in Stockholm, I am encouraged by the growing consensus and recognition of the central role that water plays in all aspects of social and economic development – indeed, it is the foundation upon which all of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be delivered. Participants from nearly 130 countries and representing over 400 organisations will gather at thi...

WATER UNITE IS REDUCING WATER SCARCITY AND POLLUTION

Originally posted by Borgen Magazine:  For millions of people around the world, water scarcity is a grave problem that can affect every aspect of daily life. Without clean and plentiful water, crops and animals die, which leads to starvation for the people living in the area. Children do not receive an adequate education because they are required to help their families get drinking water every day. Furthermore, access to basic sanitation is lost, raising the risk of diseases....

WATER UNITE ANNOUNCES THREE INITIAL PROGRAMMES

Generous support from the Rockefeller, Osprey, Stone Family and Vitol Foundations enabled the feasibility and initial set up phase of Water Unite. Co-op, the UK’s largest community retailer, has signed a Partnership Compact as a pioneer partner - every branded bottle sold by Co-op contributes a penny per litre to Water Unite. We are in active dialogue with dozens of other major bottled water retailers. While still early days, our journey has begun. A new board, chaired by Lord Malcolm Bruce, h...

WATER UNITE TO RAISE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM BOTTLED WATER TO HELP END WATER POVERTY AND PLASTIC POLLUTION

On World Water Day 2018, partners in a new global investment fund for water will unveil Water Unite – a purpose-driven brand uniting individuals and companies against water poverty and plastic pollution.  Participating partners in Water Unite are harnessing fast-growing revenues from bottled water sales, directing around 1 cent per litre to the Water Unite fund.    Founding partners include Co-Op UK, with discussions underway with other major retailers and bottled water pro...

FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER CONVENES BOTTLED WATER CHIEFS TO DISCUSS WATER UNITE

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Chair of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership, has hosted a meeting of some of the world’s major bottled water brands and retailers to discuss Water Unite. Based on the concept of directing one cent per litre from bottled water sales, the fund has the potential to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fight water poverty across the developing world and tackle plastic pollution head on. As well as leaders of major bottled water producer an...

CO-OP UK TO BE PIONEER PARTNER IN WATER UNITE

The Co-op UK already donates money from the sales of its own-label bottled water, but will extend its commitment to donate a penny per litre from all branded water it sells across its 2,600 stores in the UK to contribute to the initiative. Steve Murrells, Group Chief Executive, Co-op, said: “For over ten years, the Co-op has championed the need to invest in water sanitation and hygiene projects in countries such as Kenya and Malawi. “Water Unite is an exciting new initiative which has the po...