Woman filling up reusable BRITA Water Filter bottle from a tap outdoors.

BRITA launches ‘Reach for the Reusable’ campaign

Our new campaign is calling for more public water fountains to cut down on plastic waste.

Today BRITA is incredibly excited to launch the ‘Reach for the Reusable’ campaign, which is calling on the government and local authorities to ensure more people can access free drinking water on the go. To achieve this, we’re asking for a change to planning rules, to require developers to include public water fountains in their building plans.


Not only would this help to massively cut down plastic bottle waste, but it would also help to prepare our towns and cities for climate change as global temperatures continue to rise.

Woman drinking water from new BRITA Vutal water filter bottle

Heatwaves

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, with heat-related deaths hitting an all-time high last year, and stories of wildlife and extreme heat hitting the headlines throughout the summer months. In 2022, the UK issued its first-ever Level 4 heat health alert as temperatures of a staggering 40°C were recorded for the first time. Free access to water in our urban areas is now more important than ever.

Currently, there are not even any mentions of water fountains or refill points in the ‘National Planning Policy Framework’ which forms the basis for planning rules in Britain. Our campaign wants to change this, we want to see water fountains in the most used public spaces, such as playgrounds, squares, high streets, and public transport hubs.

Two people drinking from reusable BRITA water filter bottles on Tennis Court.

Water refill stations

Not only would the expansion of water stations be a win for public health, but it would be an effective way of slashing the amount of avoidable plastic we use, as a whopping 10 million plastic bottles of water are being sold per day in the UK according to the charity City2Sea.

New research by BRITA also shows that 70% of Brits would prefer to use a reusable water bottle if it was easier to refill in public spaces. Furthermore, Google searches for ‘water refill stations’ have skyrocketed by 254% since 2021, showing the public’s changing habits when it comes to drinking water.

David Hall, Managing Director at BRITA

David Hall, Managing Director at BRITA UK

Billions of disposable plastic bottles are currently littered, landfilled or incinerated every year. Single-use plastic bottles are polluting rivers, harming wildlife and choking our seas. If the government is serious about eliminating avoidable plastic pollution, we need to put better infrastructure in place to mainstream a culture of refill and reuse. Having access to free and clean tap water when out and about in towns and cities across the country should be a given.

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