World Water Day 2025🌍💧
On UN World Water Day, we’re reminded that water connects us all, but so does our responsibility to protect it. Yet today, 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, while plastic pollution floods our oceans and rivers. At BRITA, we’re committed to changing that by reducing plastic waste and making sustainable water solutions accessible for all.
The Global Water Crisis🌊
The scale of plastic pollution in the earth’s water system is so large it’s hard to imagine. Every year, around 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans. That’s the equivalent of 1.27 million overflowing rubbish lorries. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch alone covers an area over four times the size of Germany completely in marine debris, and contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic.
But the size of the plastic waste isn’t the only problem. Microplastics in our water are especially concerning because they come from the breakdown of larger plastic items and end up in almost every part of our environment, from oceans to soil, and even the food we consume. The long-term effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on our health are largely unexplored, raising concerns about their potential impact.
BRITA’s Mission💪
At BRITA, we believe clean water should be accessible without harming the planet. That’s why this World Water Day, we’re setting a target to save 6.5 billion water bottles from polluting our waters in 2025. BRITA has long championed reusable alternatives, and our products offer a sustainable option that help reduce waste, cut carbon emissions, and save cash!
If you’re not fond of the taste of tap water, but want to make a sustainable choice, water filters can improve taste by removing chlorine and limescale. One litre of filtered tap water generates just 7.1 grams of CO2, compared to 161 grams for bottled water.
If we all make a small effort, the collective impact can be huge.
Worldwide Water Stories💧
This World Water Day, we set off to find people around the world who value water as much as us, to hear their stories.
In the Canary Islands...
Saúl Oliva Cabrera is tackling water scarcity with an innovative solution: fog water collectors. These devices capture moisture from fog, which is essentially a type of cloud, and convert it into fresh water. The water collected is then used to support a vital reforestation initiative, helping restore local ecosystems and combat the region's water shortage.
Elsewhere, whilst travelling in Madagascar...
Sid Vollebergt was struck by the harsh reality of local communities relying on unsafe drinking water. This experience inspired him to co-found Elemental Water Makers, a company that turns sea water into clean drinking water using only solar energy. Today, Sid tells us, over 150,000 people across 25 countries drink clean water using this method, helping to address water scarcity.
In Florida...
Alex Schulze and Andrew Cooper founded 4ocean after seeing the devastating effects of ocean waste during a trip. Their organisation focuses on cleaning oceans and rivers, employing full-time crews to remove plastic waste. A significant portion of their funding comes from selling bracelets made from the plastic they recover. This innovative approach has helped remove millions of pounds of waste from the oceans.
Your Water Story💙
These Worldwide Water stories serve as a powerful reminder that we all have a responsibility to adopt sustainable practices in our daily lives. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. By choosing to refill our bottles rather than buying single-use every time, we collectively contribute to alleviating the water crisis.
Learn more about BRITA’s commitment to sustainability, our Worldwide Water Stories, and how you can help by visiting our Worldwide Water Stories website.
