Belu is a UK
beverage company
The drink industry (or drinks industry, also known as the beverage industry) produces drinks, in particular ready to drink products. Drink production can vary greatly depending on the product being made. ManufacturingDrinks.com explains that "bott ...
. The company supplies
mineral water,
tonic water
Tonic water (or Indian tonic water) is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctive b ...
, a range of flavoured
mixers and
filtration
Filtration is a physical separation process that separates solid matter and fluid from a mixture using a ''filter medium'' that has a complex structure through which only the fluid can pass. Solid particles that cannot pass through the filter ...
systems.
History
Belu was founded in 2004 by film maker ''Reed'' ''Paget'' as a bottled water business with an aim to be an environmentally friendly alternative to other beverages on the market.
Before launching Belu, Paget was a keen environmentalist in business communities, encouraging others in the drinks industry to consider the environmental impact of sourcing, manufacturing and packaging. Early stage investors in Belu included Body Shop co-founder Gordon Roddick, environmentalist Ben Goldsmith and hedge fund manager, Chris Cooper-Hohn.
Paget launched the UK's first
compostable plastic
Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Biodegradable plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, micro-organisms, ...
bottle in 2006.
Paget appointed Karen Lynch, previously
Barclays
Barclays () is a British multinational universal bank, headquartered in London, England. Barclays operates as two divisions, Barclays UK and Barclays International, supported by a service company, Barclays Execution Services.
Barclays traces ...
Branch Marketing Manager, as a new MD in 2010. Lynch expanded the company distribution model to include wholesale and in 2011 she re-launched the Belu brand
In 2011, Lynch employed the design agency.
This is Real Art to create a new bottle design as part of the brand refresh.
In March 2020, Lynch stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Natalie Campbell MBE. Later in 2020. Charlotte Harrington became Co-CEO.
Belu partnered with Ocean Bottle and launched a reusable bottle in October 2020. Ocean Bottle partners with
Plastic Bank, which works with collectors in coastal communities with high levels of plastic pollution. Every Belu Ocean Bottle sold funds the collection of 11.4kg of plastic, equivalent to stopping 1000 bottles from entering our oceans.
In 2021, Belu launched a range of flavoured
mixers and
tonic water
Tonic water (or Indian tonic water) is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctive b ...
s. During the same year, it launched its first overseas filtration operations in Hong Kong.
Belu has given £5.2 million of its profits to
WaterAid since 2011. Belu has a partnership with WaterAid and has an agreement in place to give 100% of its profits to
WaterAid.
In 2012, Belu was part of the arc initiative. It is also a member of
Social Enterprise UK.
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Belu (Company)
Bottled water brands