Our purpose P&L
This is how the money flows
As each year passes, we get closer to the goal we’ve set for 2030: to change the way the world sees water. At Belu, the pursuit of this purpose powers everything we do. It is our promise to every person who chooses to buy Belu, it is core to every product and service we sell and it’s aligned with our commitment to the UN SDG’s 6, 12 and 13*. As a social enterprise, we don’t make profit our sole priority (it’s a tool for us rather than a driver) so rather than having a traditional P&L (profit & loss) statement** to show where the money flows, we have created our very own Purpose P&L® to track our performance against our purpose. Changing the way the world sees water is a bold ambition. Ambition without action is fantasy. That’s why our Purpose P&L is so important.
This is how the money flows
The important numbers from 2022
19,859 LIVES TRANSFORMED
How do we calculate that?
Measuring Impact can be tricky but in order to track progress, make sure we’re doing what we say we’re doing and set future objectives, we use a measure based on WaterAid’s average ‘cost per user’ figures to give a sense of what the £297,891 we have given to WaterAid for 2022 means in terms of lives affected positively with clean water.
The money we give to WaterAid is unrestricted, so they decide where it is best spent and can re-allocate if an emergency situation arises. This means the money from Belu gets to the people and projects most in need. The cost of reaching the poorest and most marginalised people varies greatly from country to country and project to project but WaterAid have calculated an average.
The maths : Using average costs from 2014-2017*, the sum begins with the total WaterAid spent on their country programmes and regions, plus the cost of the WaterAid UK based Programme Support Unit.
Then what portion of this money was spent on water, sanitation or hygiene was calculated and in each case the total divided by the number of people reached, to result in a ‘cost per life transformed’ by each provision.
We estimate that through WaterAid’s work, the £297,891 Belu has given can reach 19,859 people with clean water, which in turn enables change, giving people a chance to be healthy and educated and allowing them to thrive. Life transforming indeed.
Knowing what the money could be used to buy also helps clarify its impact:
£15
could help buy a length of water supply distribution pipe in Zambia.
£30
could help buy a handwashing facility for a family in Mali.
£50
could help provide hygiene awareness training to a whole community in Zambia.
Rahima works as a health care provider at the Raghunathpur Community Clinic in Bangladesh, situated in a coastal region where sea-level rise is polluting fresh water and extreme weather causes regular flooding. WaterAid have delivered sustainable facilities including a new underground reservoir.
“The patients always arrive from a very far distance… Since the handover of the safe drinking water facility and toilets, patients have been very happy. I feel happy about how the water and clean toilets have transformed our lives. If we can drink safe water, our life can be saved. Without safe water, no one can be healthy. The water we preserve on the rainwater harvesting plant can be used for almost a year from now. This was unimaginable in the past.”
carbon
Measurement
Taking steps towards a zero carbon future.
In 2011, Belu became the first official ‘carbon neutral’ water brand. In 2012 we were PAS 2060 certified for carbon neutrality and followed that framework for 10 years, tracking our supply chain and organisational footprint across all products and processes – and supporting various carbon offset projects along the way. Last year, agreeing with a report from WWF and Boston Consulting Group, we changed our approach to Carbon Management. We felt that buying international carbon credits to offset remaining emissions was not the right way to go.
2021
Our carbon emission reduction YOY was a hefty
-69%
due to our lightweight glass, use of 100% Rpet and reduced production due to Covid.
2022
Our reduction in carbon intensity (grams of CO2 emitted per litre poured) since 2010 has dropped back to 59% but we’ve still seen a
-8%
reduction in carbon intensity since 2019 which
exceeded our -5% commitment
(a stretch target in itself) .
We’re now working towards our new emissions ambitions. Whilst PAS 2060 showed we were getting the fundamentals right, we now have full focus on driving carbon reduction and removal rather than relying on offsetting. A zero carbon future is what we’re aiming for by investing in climate resilience and nature-based solutions that regenerate and restore biodiversity in the UK and we’re working with our supply chain to remove emissions over the long term. Whilst our adjusted strategy means we won’t be PAS2060 certified, the end result will be a far better one.
Our 2022 carbon
footprint
Still heading in the right direction
OUR CARBON IMPACT IS
GENERATED BY:
81% RAW MATERIALS
2% INBOUND TRANSPORT
3% BOTTLING
9% DISTRIBUTION
2% USE PHASE
2% END OF LIFE
1% GHG EMISSIONS PER LITRE OF WATER SOLD
Total carbon footprint
4,772
Tonnes
vs | 6,061 in 2019
Total carbon intensity
318 kg CO2
per litre poured
-59% reduction since 2010 baseline and -8% since 2019
CO2 kg per £ revenue
0.68
vs | 1.08 in 2019
Total emissions 4,772 tCO2e
-21% on 2019
cumulative carbon reduction
carbon
Measurement
Taking steps to a zero carbon future.
In 2011, Belu became the first official ‘carbon neutral’ water brand. In 2012 we were PAS 2060 certified for carbon neutrality and followed that framework for 10 years, tracking our supply chain and organisational footprint across all products and processes – and supporting various carbon offset projects along the way. Last year, agreeing with a report from WWF and Boston Consulting Group, we changed our approach to Carbon Management. We felt that buying international carbon credits to offset remaining emissions was not the right way to go.
2021
Our carbon emission reduction YOY was a hefty
-69%
due to our lightweight glass, use of 100% Rpet and reduced production due to Covid.
2022
Our overall Carbon intensity since 2010 has dropped back to 59% (grams of CO2 emitted per litre poured) but we’ve still seen an
-8%
We’re now working towards our new emissions ambitions. Whilst PAS 2060 showed we were getting the fundamentals right, we now have full focus on driving carbon reduction and removal rather than relying on offsetting. A zero carbon future is what we’re aiming for by investing in climate resilience and nature-based solutions that regenerate and restore biodiversity in the UK and we’re working with our supply chain to remove emissions over the long term. Whilst our adjusted strategy means we won’t be PAS2060 certified, the end result will be a far better one.
Our 2022 carbon
footprint
Still heading in the right direction
OUR CARBON IMPACT IS
GENERATED BY:
81% RAW MATERIALS
2% INBOUND TRANSPORT
3% BOTTLING
9% DISTRIBUTION
2% USE PHASE
2% END OF LIFE
1% GHG EMISSIONS PER LITRE OF WATER SOLD
Total carbon footprint
4,772
Tonnes
vs | 6,061 in 2019
Total carbon intensity
318 kg CO2
per litre poured
-59% reduction since 2010 baseline and -8% since 2019
CO2 kg per £ revenue
0.68
vs | 1.08 in 2019
Total emissions 4,772 tCO2e
-21% on 2019
The majority of our carbon emissions are generated through the UK production of our bottles. Glass production needs high temperatures, requiring a lot of energy.
It’s great news that the combination of our lighter weight glass and recycled content has driven a 21% reduction in emissions from raw materials since 2019.
The even better news is that our sustainability focussed glass partner, encirc, is building a new furnace at its Cheshire plant which will be powered by zero carbon electricity and hydrogen as part of the UK’s ‘HyNet’ Industrial decarbonisation project, to create the world’s first net zero bottles at scale by 2030.
Carbon Management
Where are our carbon emissions coming from?
New filter machines deliver manufacturing emissions in year 1. 2022 was a big year for us for installations -184 in total – and the goal is 300 in 2023 so there may well be an increase in our product intensity as a result. Mixers is higher per litre as bottles are 200ml. Per bottle emissions are comparatively low.
HOW WE KEEP OUR CARBON EMISSIONS LOW
NO EXPORT
Our mineral water comes from the UK and stays in the UK
PLASTIC (really)
Half the emissions to manufacture vs. aluminium cans and easily recycled vs. cartons
CLOSED LOOP
We turn used bottles into new bottles – 108,780,486 of them to date
RECYCLABLE
100% recyclable bottles and maximum recycled content
LIGHTWEIGHT GLASS
UK made, less material used and less weight to transport.
REFILLABLE
Whether it’s Belu Filter in Action, or the tap. It’s the way forward
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Finding ways to close the loop
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Finding ways to close the loop
The circular economy is based on three principles:
1) Eliminate waste and pollution
2) Circulate products and materials (at their highest value)
3) Regenerate nature
So that means rethinking the concept of ‘waste’ by using materials that can be reused continuously and are safe for people and the environment. Also recycling, re-manufacturing, repairing and refurbishing to create a ‘closed loop’ system, preventing the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions. Here’s how we’re walking the talk:
Our mineral water source is tucked away in an area of outstanding natural beauty amongst a range of former volcanic hills in Powys, Wales.
Our mineral water partner, Montgomery Waters, is dedicated to ensuring the total protection of the water and the local community.
That’s the principle of good water stewardship and the inspiration for our 2022 (and ongoing) purpose – led investment in UK waterways. We say yaki dah (that’s ‘cheers’ in Welsh) to that!
Climate Investment
Water stewardship is the way forward
We’ve partnered up with The Canal & River Trust to fund nature based waterway conservation projects, initially around our source. Our funding has supported a major clearing and cleaning project in the Montgomery Canal, plus the provision of two ingenious, wildlife friendly ‘leaky dams’. They create barriers so that chemicals and waste from nearby farms do not enter the waterway, in turn protecting the eco-system and maintaining a healthy habitat to support bio-diversity. We’ve also supported The Rivers Trust on their water stewardship portal which will gather vital environmental insight.
Climate Investment
Water stewardship is the way forward
We’ve partnered up with The Canal & River Trust to fund nature based waterway conservation projects, initially around our source. Our funding has supported a major clearing and cleaning project in the Montgomery Canal, plus the provision of two ingenious, wildlife friendly ‘leaky dams’. They create barriers so that chemicals and waste from nearby farms do not enter the waterway, in turn protecting the eco-system and maintaining a healthy habitat to support bio-diversity. We’ve also supported The Rivers Trust on their water stewardship portal which will gather vital environmental insight.
WHEN IT COMES TO WATER STEWARDSHIP, WE’RE WORKING THROUGH A STEP-BY STEP PROCESS:
Step 1
Water Awareness
Step 2
Understand Impact
& Risk
Step 3
Internal Action
Step 4
Collective Action
Belu Impact
To Date
