frequently asked questions
Find answers to common questions about One Water’s products, purpose, sustainability, buying options, impact and how we support clean water access.
Where can I buy One Water?
Current stockists include World Duty Free, Sainsbury’s, Co-Op, Ocado, Starbucks, Holland & Barrett and more. Keep an eye out for our new store locator, coming soon!
I want to stock One Water, who do I contact?
Businesses can purchase One Water from one of our many wholesale partners. Please email hello@onewater.org.uk to find out more.
Do you have a trade pack?
Please email hello@onewater.org.uk to discuss support with a member of our sales team.
Who do I contact if I have a problem with One Water I purchased in store?
If you have a problem with a One Water product please contact hello@onewater.org.uk
What is a B Corp?
A Certified B Corporation is a company that meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency as verified by the non-profit organisation, B Lab
Why is One Water a B Corp?
We were one of the founding B Corps in the UK – the 7th to be precise, and we are proud to have not only maintained our certification for the last 10 years, but to have continually improved our score as we strive to use our business as a force for good. We are now the highest scoring soft drinks brand in the world with a category leading 132.6
What other certifications does One Water have?
We are proud to be a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. The UNGC supports companies to align principles on human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption – and take actions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
We are proud to be a certified Living Wage employer.
Is One Water Fairtrade?
Bottled water is not a product which can be certified as Fairtrade, but at One Water we ensure our supply chain is ethical and sustainable through our policies and practices. For example, we are proud to be a certified Living Wage employer.
What projects does The One Foundation support?
The One Foundation supports sustainable water and sanitation programmes for communities living in some of the most extreme poverty and in areas particularly vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change. The One Foundation works in both rural and urban environments, varying the approach to meet local needs. This means they support projects ranging from handpump repair and upgrades, to district-wide piped water and sewer networks. Our vision is simple: a world in which everyone has access to safe, clean water. Read more at https://theonefoundation.org.uk.
Where does The One Foundation operate?
Over the 20+ years that they have been funding water programmes, The One Foundation has worked in almost 20 countries. Currently The One Foundation is funding ongoing projects in 4 key countries – Malawi, Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda. In addition, 10% of The One Foundation’s annual funding is allocated to emergency response, whether in the wake of natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. Most recently this funding has been deployed to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine and the Turkey-Syria earthquake. Read more at https://theonefoundation.org.uk.
Isn't it more sustainable to get water from the tap?
If your tap water is safe to drink, then drinking this is more environmentally friendly than drinking bottled water. This is because it has a lower carbon footprint than bottled water which is packaged and transported from where it is produced to where it is sold. However, it is not always possible or practical to rely on tap water, and in these instances, we recommend One Water – water which supports communities with access to safe, clean water and strives to have the smallest environmental impact possible.
Why do you sell plastic bottles if you care about the environment?
Plastic isn’t the right packaging for every occasion, but PET is an incredibly lightweight material, and ours is made of 100% recycled material (excluding cap and label), so the carbon emissions associated with the product are very low compared to other materials. This is particularly true if you recycle the product correctly when you are done with it as it then returns to life as another bottle, rather than going to waste.
Using 100% recycled material and recycling it correctly, plastic offers the lowest carbon footprint of all our packaging, so 100% recycled PET bottles are an important part of our range, which also includes glass, aluminium cans, and cartons. You can read more about our packaging and how we strive to make each product as sustainable as possible here.
We hate plastic pollution as much as anyone else, which is why we are constantly working to increase recycling rates through education campaigns and designing our products with recyclability in mind. Read our blog about recycling here.
Should I not just use a reusable water bottle?
Reusable water bottles are great, but there are a few things to consider. Reusable water bottles have a higher carbon footprint than single use bottles, for example our aluminium refill bottles have a carbon footprint of 508.1gCO2e/unit, while our rPET bottle has a carbon footprint of just 89.4gCO2e/unit. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use a reusable bottle, but you should make sure that you use it consistently, and try not to buy too many! If you refill our aluminium refill bottle at least 6 times, then the environmental impact per use will be significantly reduced, but the more uses the better.
Is One Water carbon neutral?
No, not any more. You may have noticed that in the past we were a certified carbon neutral business with certified carbon neutral products. This meant that we calculated our greenhouse gas emissions as a business and for our products (scope 1-3), and we purchased an equivalent amount of carbon credits, to offset these emissions, but removing the equivalent amount of carbon elsewhere, eg. via reforestation.
The problem with this approach is that it is less ambitious than net zero, and it doesn’t actually address the problem – the creation of the carbon. To achieve net zero, organisations must focus on cutting their emissions at the source – eg. by switching to renewable energy – and then only purchasing carbon credits to neutralise the last 10% of emissions which are tricky to eliminate.
With this in mind, we are now redirecting funds previously used to purchase carbon offsets, instead investing in carbon reduction projects in line with our net zero targets. That said, we also continue to support nature-based projects which sequester carbon alongside other environmental and social benefits, such as The Tree Project in Malawi.
What is One Water doing to address climate change?
As a business, we constantly strive to reduce our negative impact on the environment.
Climate science says that the world needs to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and doing that involves everyone reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases (such as CO2) to nearly zero by 2050. We are committed to playing our part in this, so we have targets in place to eliminate our Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030 and reach net zero long before 2050. You can find out more about how we are doing this in our latest impact report.
We also support a forestry project in Malawi which you can read about here or watch a video about here. This project is all about having a positive impact on the environment while also supporting local communities who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Where can I read your impact report?
Read our latest impact report here to learn more about our sustainability journey and keep up to date with what we’ve been up to.
How long can I keep One Water. What is the shelf life?
Our still water has a ‘best before end’ date of 3 years from production, with the exception of our cans (both still and sparkling), which has a ‘best before end’ date of 2 years from production.
Our sparkling water in glass is best before 2 years from production, and our sparkling water in rPET 1 year from production.
How should I store my One Water?
We recommend that you store all of our products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Our products are best served chilled.
Where does the water come from?
Our water is sourced from natural springs across the UK and Ireland where it is bottled at source. The majority of our water comes from Wales where it filters naturally through mineral rich volcanic rock before undergoing quality control procedures at bottling.
What is the difference between mineral water and spring water?
The UK government states that both spring water and natural mineral water come from underground sources tapped at a natural or drilled exit, which is free from parasites, bacteria which cause disease and pollution – and they are both bottled at source. The main difference lies in how the two are regulated:
Spring water is collected directly from a protected underground source and bottled at the spring or borehole. It must meet strict safety standards, but it doesn’t have to keep the exact same mineral balance over time and the mineral content does not need to be displayed on the label.
Natural mineral water also comes from an underground source, but there are additional specific regulations: it must keep a stable composition over a long period of time, retain its original properties from source to bottling (fewer treatment options are allowed), and its mineral content must be displayed on the label.
In short, both spring water and natural mineral water are high-quality and carefully controlled, they’re just defined slightly differently by law.
Is the water quality tested?
Yes. Our water is tested regularly to ensure compliance with legal requirements for spring water in line with The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 2007 (England and Wales) and Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (Ireland).
The legislation includes the microbiological and chemical parameters for spring and natural mineral water.
Water bottled and labelled as “spring water” meets the requirements of the legislation if the water does not contain the microbiological, chemical, or radioactive parameters at a concentration or value exceeding the concentration or value specified for that parameter in the legislation.
What is BPA?
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is defined by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) as a chemical used to make rigid plastics, including food storage containers and refillable drinks bottles. It is also used to make some protective coatings and linings for food and drinks cans.
Is there BPA in One Water?
All One Water product packaging is BPA-NI (BPA Non-Intent), meaning that we do not use BPA in any of our packaging. For simplicity, this is often referred to as ‘BPA Free’. All of One Water’s product packaging complies with regulatory standards and we stay up to date with the latest scientific research and legislative changes on this topic.
What are microplastics?
The World Health Organisation (2022) defines a microplastic as a material consisting of solid polymer-containing particles, to which additives or other substances may have been added, which are sized between 1 nanometer (nm) and 5 millimetres (mm). As a subset of microplastics, the WHO defines a nanoplastic as a plastic particle measuring 1 to 1000 nm. You might also see the unit ‘micron’ (µ) when referring to microplastics. 100 nanometers is 0.1 micron.
Are there microplastics in One Water?
Microplastics are a global environmental challenge. A limited number of scientific studies have revealed the presence of microplastic across the globe, including in food and beverage supply chains where microplastics have been detected in a range of products, irrespective of the material they are packaged in or the company that produces them.
Water in all formats across our range of products is subject to strict quality control processes and is tested regularly to ensure its quality and regulatory compliance. Our water is sourced from deep aquifers under protected land free from contamination, and it is filtered using a filter with a pore size ranging from 0.2µ to 1µ. See FAQ 21 for more information on regulations and chemical contamination.
We continually monitor emerging evidence on this topic and remain committed to providing safe, high-quality products while supporting the advancement of scientific understanding in this important field.
What is the typical mineral analysis of One Water products?
500ml still & sparkling rPET, still & sparkling glass:
Typical Analysis (mg/l): Calcium: 51.0, Magnesium: 4.1, Sodium: 8.6, Potassium: 0.6, Sulphate: 10.4, Nitrate: 6.2,
Chloride: 10.7. Dry Residue at 180°C: 206, pH: 7.85
Tetra Pak cartons:
Typical Analysis (mg/l): Calcium: 36, Magnesium: 22, Sodium: 32, Potassium: 19, Bicarbonate: 300, Chloride: 15, Nitrate: <1, Sulphate: 9, pH at source: 7.9
330ml still and sparkling cans:
Typical Analysis (mg/l): Calcium: 82.4, Magnesium: 32.7, Sodium: 20.1, Potassium: 2.0, Sulphur: 34.5, Nitrate: 8.0, pH: 7.6
500ml still aluminium bottle:
Typical Analysis (mg/l): Calcium: 47.8, Magnesium: 9.2, Sodium: 13.8, Potassium: 2.2, Sulphate: <0.21, Nitrate: 10, pH: 7.8
What is the pH level of One Water?
The pH level of the water varies depending on the source, which varies across our product range.
Plastic (rPET) and Glass bottles: pH 7.85
Tetra Pak cartons: pH 7.90
Cans: pH 7.6
Aluminium bottle: 7.8
Why should I drink water?
Human bodies are made up of 50-70% water. It is essential to stay hydrated to help support the healthy functioning of our bodies. For example, water helps the body to process waste, it helps to maintain a stable body temperature, it lubricates joints, and more!
The NHS recommends that people should aim to drink 6-8 glasses of fluid per day, and we believe that there is no better hydration than water.
What different formats do you offer?
We offer a range of product formats as we know that there is no one size fits all when it comes to customer needs or sustainability. Our range includes: 100% recycled PET plastic, Aluminium cans, Glass, Cartons, Aluminium bottles. Visit our product page for more information on each format.
Is One Water packaging made from recycled materials?
We use recycled materials as much as possible in our products, and we are constantly striving to increase the amount we use. At the moment, our PET bottles are made of 100% recycled material (except cap and label, but we’re working on that), our cans are made from at least 71% recycled aluminium, our glass is made of 40% recycled glass, our aluminium bottles are made of 100% recycled aluminium. The exception to this is our cartons, which are not made of recycled materials. However, they are made of 88% renewable raw materials, including paperboard from sustainably managed forests and a cap made from sugar cane.
How do I recycle my carton of One Water?
Check the Recycle Now website for guidance relevant to your local area. From April 2026, England’s Simpler Recycling reforms mandate that liquid cartons must be collected at kerbside for recycling, and this will be made clear on the packaging. Don’t forget to keep the cap on when you recycle them!
How do I recycle my plastic bottle of One Water?
Keep the lid on and pop it in your regular recycling!
How do I recycle my can of One Water?
Pop it in your regular recycling!
How do I recycle my glass bottle of One Water?
Keep the lid on and pop it in your regular recycling!
Can I recycle shrink wrap on the multipack?
Yes, but generally not at kerbside, so we recommend you take it to a recycling point such as a large supermarket!
