What is Water Unite?
Water Unite is a global not-for-profit organisation on a mission to end water poverty, improve sanitation, and promote the circular economy in developing countries. Founded to tackle some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges, Water Unite raises funds through voluntary micro-contributions on products and services from corporate partners. Managed in collaboration with Wellers Impact, an FCA authorised impact investment manager, Water Unite Impact (WUI) provides risk-tolerant capital to Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) working in water, sanitation, and circular economy sectors. Simply put, it’s about making clean water and better waste management accessible to those who need it most.
The Main Benefit: Why Water Unite Matters
Water Unite is all about creating real change, and the numbers tell a powerful story:
- Almost a third of people on Earth don’t have running water at home or access to good sanitation.
- Over 750 million people rely on unsafe water sources daily.
- 2.3 billion people lack access to basic sanitation anywhere.
- Less than 10% of the 300 million tons of plastic produced each year is recycled.
- Water Unite aims to raise between US$100-$200 million in the next two years to tackle these issues.
By supporting Water Unite, consumers and businesses alike invest in safe, sustainable water services and improved recycling schemes worldwide. It’s a chance to be part of something bigger—ending water poverty and reducing plastic pollution by 2030.
The Water Problem: Why Clean Water is Critical
Safe drinking water and sanitation are the foundation for healthy lives and thriving communities. Yet, the reality is harsh: nearly a third of the world’s population still lacks running water at home. Even more staggering, 2.3 billion people don’t have access to basic sanitation facilities anywhere. This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a major health crisis. To make a real dent in this problem, investments in water and sanitation need to increase massively, and they must be targeted where they’re needed most. Without this, millions will continue to suffer from preventable diseases and poor living conditions.
The Waste Problem: Tackling Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution is a huge environmental headache. Every year, the world churns out 300 million tons of plastic, but only about 9% of it gets recycled. The rest? It ends up polluting rivers, oceans, and landscapes, threatening wildlife and ecosystems. This growing crisis has sparked a new “plastics economy” focused on ensuring plastics never become waste in the first place. It’s all about embracing the circular economy—where materials are reused, recycled, and kept in use for as long as possible. Water Unite is part of this movement, investing in better recycling schemes and waste management projects globally.
The Water Unite Solution: How It Works
Water Unite believes everyone can make a difference. The organisation is setting up a global fund for water and waste, fueled by voluntary donations linked to products sold by retailers and brands. Imagine if every retailer and brand joined in—together, they could raise billions to end water poverty and tackle plastic pollution. The fund will invest in sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, alongside improved recycling schemes worldwide. It’s a simple but powerful idea: small contributions add up to massive impact.
Water Unite’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. Achieving this requires quadrupling investments in water and sanitation services.
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production. By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
- Goal 14: Life below water. By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution, especially from land-based activities like plastic waste.
Water Unite Impact: Investing in Emerging Markets
Water Unite Impact, managed by Wellers Impact, focuses on investing in emerging markets to provide clean water for people and the planet. This investment fund offers risk-tolerant capital to SMEs in water, sanitation, and circular economy sectors—helping innovative businesses grow and scale solutions where they’re needed most. It’s not just charity; it’s smart impact investing aimed at creating sustainable change on the ground. Through this approach, Water Unite is driving progress toward a healthier, cleaner world—one investment at a time.
