Ethical Shopping

Drink in World Water Day with The Big Issue Shop

Social enterprise GiveMeTap is overflowing with ways to mark the annual celebration of the importance of water on March 22

World Water Day is rushing towards us – and there’s no better way to tap into the importance of water than with The Big Issue Shop.

Taking place on March 22 every year, the UN’s celebration day has the theme of ‘Nature for Water’ this year, encouraging the nature-based solutions to the liquid challenges facing the world in the 21st century.

I realised I could save cash, hit my fitness goals, and take care of the planet – all by selling bottles to provide clean water

Around the globe, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at their home – a devastating drain on health, education and livelihoods.

The UN has long-rallied to ensure support pours in to tackle the problem through their Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring that no one is without access to safe water by 2030.

But it will be swimming upstream to hit that target – by 2050, the world’s population will have grown by an estimated two billion people and global water demand could be up to 30 percent higher than today.

So that’s why the UN is hoping to turn a trickle of ideas into a flood when it comes to boosting ecosystems and combatting the environmental damage that drives water-related crises around the world.

GiveMeTap has got the bottle to take on the challenge. In fact, its stainless steel reusable water bottles, available in The Big Issue Shop, fund five years of clean water for someone across Africa with every sale. There is even the added bonus of free water refills from a network of shops across the UK after founder Edwin Broni-Mensah was inspired by his heavier gym workload.

“Getting a six-pack was all I could think about,” he says. “It was my dream and I went after it like a seagull on a chip. As well as working out more and increasing my daily calorie intake, my water consumption also went up. But when it came to finding places where I could get free tap water, I was stumped.

“After being refused refills by countless cafes and restaurants, I remembered my dad’s stories of growing up in Ghana with little or no access to clean water.

GMT_embed

“And that’s where my dream took a different direction. I realised I could save cash, hit my fitness goals, and take care of the planet – all by selling bottles to provide clean water to communities in Africa.”

GiveMeTap bottles available in pink, red and silver are available in The Big Issue Shop here.

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
'The system is killing us': How B Corps are fighting injustice with socks, coffee and handbags
Ethical shopping

'The system is killing us': How B Corps are fighting injustice with socks, coffee and handbags

'We're all changing the world': How B Corps are turning competition into collaboration
The Sustainable Drinks Cabinet event 2023
B Corps

'We're all changing the world': How B Corps are turning competition into collaboration

giffgaff is up to good
Sponsored Post

giffgaff is up to good

'You're being ripped off!': Behind the insidious rise of greenwashing – and how to fight back
Greenwashing image fro B Corp piece
B Corp

'You're being ripped off!': Behind the insidious rise of greenwashing – and how to fight back

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know