Scottish duo prove eco-friendly

Two young Scottish entrepreneurs have created the world’s first reusable drinks bottle made from sustainably sourced plants.

Recent graduates Jake Elliotthook and Amee Ritchie founded S’wheat in 2018 with a mission to help reduce environmental pollution from single-use plastics.

After studying at Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh College, respectively, the pair set out to design a reusable container with both sustainability and practicality in mind.

The result is a bottle made out of wheat straw and other plant-based materials that can be easily cleaned and has the potential to last for years. The bottles have natural “ecoinsulated” thermal wall technology built in, allowing them to carry both hot and cold liquids.

Elliott-hook and Ritchie have calculated that every bottle sold can replace 360 disposable vessels.

They have pledged that a trackable and traceable tree will also be planted for each purchase, while a

percentage of profits will be donated to ocean charities.

“We wanted to create a new material that would be as durable as plastic, but without the negative consequences,” says Elliott-hook. “We found everything we needed to do so in nature.”

The project began from humble beginnings, launched via a crowdfunding campaign. The public responded enthusiastically, pledging more than double the initial target.

“Sustainability is the core value of S’wheat and it remains at the heart of everything we do,” Elliotthook adds. “We are constantly pushing to be the most sustainable brand out there.

“We are very grateful to have the support we’ve been given as this is what makes it possible for us to make the world a cleaner place – together we can do a lot of good for the world.”

The bottle is being officially launched on Wednesday, 19 May.