Why doesn't Belu export it's bottled water?
It’s a question we are asked regularly. If Belu can supply some of the UK’s leading hotels, restaurants, workplaces and event venues, why don’t we export internationally?
The answer is simple. We believe water should travel as few miles as possible.
As a business built around environmental responsibility, we don’t think it makes sense to bottle water in the UK and distribute it around the world when quality water is often available much closer to where it will be consumed. While we have the capability to scale further, exporting mineral water would increase transport emissions and move us further away from our commitment to reducing our environmental impact. This principle is reflected across our supply chain and the choices we make every day.
A local supply chain by design
Keeping our supply chain local starts at source. Belu natural mineral water is sourced and bottled in Montgomeryshire, Wales, where it is drawn from a protected natural spring. Because natural mineral water must be bottled at source, our long-term partner Montgomery Waters manages the sourcing, filling and bottling of our mineral water range. Montgomery Waters is a family-owned business that shares our commitment to acting in the best interests of society and the environment.
From there, our bottles remain within a predominantly UK-based supply chain.
Our glass bottles are produced through our partnership with Encirc, a leading UK and Ireland glass manufacturer. Together, we have developed lightweight bottles designed to use fewer raw materials and reduce transport emissions without compromising quality.
For our cans range these are produced and filled at our partner Wenlock Springs which sits on the English/Welsh border and allows us a very close supply chain.
By working with trusted partners close to home, we can maintain visibility across our supply chain, collaborate on sustainability improvements and reduce unnecessary transport wherever possible.
Why local matters environmentally
Water is heavy and moving packaged water whether that be glass, rPET or aluminium cans long distances comes with a significant carbon cost, particularly when products are transported internationally by road, sea or air.
That’s why we take a different approach.
We bottle our water in the UK, package it in the UK and distribute it throughout the UK. In fact, Belu’s own supply chain guidance explicitly states that we do not export mineral water internationally, helping to reduce food and drink miles associated with our products.
This localised model allows us to focus on what we can control:
- Reducing transport distances
- Using lightweight packaging
- Increasing recycled content
- Working closely with manufacturing partners to lower emissions
- Building relationships with suppliers that share our environmental goals
Rather than chasing growth through exports, we focus on improving the sustainability of the supply chain we already have.
How Belu reaches customers across the UK
Not exporting doesn’t mean limiting our reach. Belu products are found in Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels, pubs, bars, cafés, workplaces and event venues throughout the UK.
We achieve this through a network of national and regional wholesalers that connect our products with hospitality and workplace customers across the UK. This model allows us to deliver at scale while avoiding the environmental cost of international distribution. Our wholesalers act as an extension of our supply chain, helping products reach customers efficiently through established delivery routes and logistics networks. References to wholesalers and supply chain partners form a key part of Belu’s wider ecosystem, supporting growth while staying aligned with our sustainability goals.
In practice, the journey for our bottled water looks like this:
Glass
Choose packaging type → Packaging created at Encirc → Packaging sent to Montgomery Waters → Filled with source in Montgomeryshire → Bottled with Montgomery Waters → Distribute through UK wholesalers → Served in hospitality and workplace venues across the UK.
rPET
RPET flake is sourced from the UK (or EU when not enough is available domestically) → Sent to Esteform in Leeds to create the pre form → Packaging sent to Montgomery to Blow the bottle → Filled with source in Montgomeryshire → Bottled with Montgomery Waters → Distribute through UK wholesalers → Served in hospitality and workplace venues across the UK.
Cans via NoMOQ
Aluminium sheets manufactured in The Netherlands → Sent to noMOQ to print and create can mould → cans sent to Wenlock Springs to fill → Distributed through UK wholesalers → Served in hospitality and workplace venues across the UK
Cans via Canpack
Aluminium sheets printed and formed in Netherlands – Sent to Can Pack in Grimsby for call off – Wenlock Springs to Fill – Distributed through UK wholesalers → Served in hospitality and workplace venues across the UK
Why our no-export policy matterS
For us, sustainability isn’t just about the packaging. It’s about the entire system behind every bottle.
Every decision has an impact, from where water is sourced to how far it travels. By choosing not to export, we can keep our supply chain closer to home, reduce unnecessary transport emissions and work more effectively with partners who share our values.
We know we could sell Belu water internationally. The demand is there. But our purpose is not simply to sell more water. It’s to change the way the world sees water. We do offer our filtration systems in Hong Kong and are opportunistic to other opportunities in other cities where venues are looking to reduce their reliance on single use packaging.
Sometimes that means choosing the more responsible route over the most commercially ambitious one. For Belu, keeping water local is one of those choices.
