Say Ohelo to where it all began...
We met whilst studying Physics at Oxford and after initial careers in finance wanted to create a planet positive company. We always enjoyed travelling and share a love of the great outdoors. Sadly, we have seen remote beaches completely covered in plastic and were aware of the devastating affect this was having on our natural world. We love escaping to nature and want to keep it that way: Natural!
We were fed up with bottles and travel cups that were available at the time. Bottles that would leak, that would not last more than a couple of months, that were a nightmare to clean. Carry loops that have space for a single finger only – painful to carry when full. Or no carry strap at all leaving you carrying water like a relay baton. Travel cups that had a tiny hole to drink through, that would spill everywhere and that smelt funny. These problems led us to our solution:
Saying Ohelo to doing things differently!
On launching Ohelo, our aim was to make a water bottle and travel cup that would make our everyday better. We designed our hydration products to be the ultimate reusables: Durable, reliable and easy to use. It was important to us that they worked well, looked good and do some good.
Work well: 25% thicker steel in our bottles ensures they are built to last. 100% leakproof lids so you can fling that cup in your bag to go from office to adventure. Fully dishwasher safe products that are super easy to keep clean. Handy handles. The list goes on…
Look good: As city dwellers ourselves we wanted our reusable bottles and coffee cups to be beautiful. Stylish enough for daily city use yet ready for an adventure. Easier to adopt into your lifestyle and less likely to be banished to the back of the kitchen cupboard.
Do good: Preventing unnecessary single use plastic is the first great thing our reusables do. But that was not enough. We built sustainability into the core of our business. From ethical manufacturing practices that look after our makers, to safer materials to protect them and our environment to giving back to sustainable charities.
Our vision: Making beautiful reusables the new normal
We hope to stamp out single use plastic by creating ethically made reusable bottles and tumblers that make every day better. Whether you are heading out for a hike in the great outdoors or just a stroll along the beach with friends.
What’s in a name?
In case you were wondering, the ‘Ōhelo berry is endemic to Hawaii and a favourite snack of the endangered Nene goose. Remember that for your next pub quiz.
Meet the team
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Katy: Co-Founder
Oxford Physics graduate (geek!) who has been through both a finance career in the city and dancing before hitting this journey into reusable water bottles.
Favourite product: Our classic bottle, which she takes to ballet to jeté across the room with the best of them.
What drink is in her Ohelo? Water for dance class, Prosecco or an English sparkling wine for fun get-togethers with friends.
Favourite spot in London: Hampstead Heath (but don’t tell everyone!)
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Alex: Co-Founder
Oxford Physics graduate (oh no, another geek!) who spent the 1st part of his career in finance. Alex loves wildlife - he nearly became a vet but understanding the laws of physics just won over.
Favourite product: Our classic bottle which he enjoys taking on outdoor adventures (even if it’s raining!)
What drink is in his Ohelo? Water or tea (for cold walks) in his bottle. Chocolate protein shake in his tumbler post work-out.
Favourite animal encounter: Sitting in a small boat floating close to the shoreline on Vancouver Island watching a black bear and her cub foraging along the shore.
The rest of the team
Cognac: Chief Security Officer/Mischief Maker/Head Hound
Newton: Chief Welfare Officer/Office Distraction/Ball Pest
As may be apparent, Cognac and Newton are no ordinary office hires. They are in fact our two miniature dachshunds, who bring delight to our daily lives. They may be small, but with big personalities Cog and Newt like to be included in whatever is going on.
Sustainability
One of our founding principles was to create a brand that was not just stylish but truly sustainable. It is not enough to simply be a reusable alternative to single use plastics.
We ethically make our products from safer materials. We ensure this by holding both independent ethical manufacturing reports (4-pillar SMETA) and a range of certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISCC).
We use stainless steel as it is endlessly recyclable without losing material quality – the perfect circular economy material. We use 25% thicker steel than other brands to create bottles that will last longer. We are a lead free brand (almost all other reusable bottle brands still use toxic lead).
Our Packaging is 100% plastic free, already recycled and is easily recyclable. Even our distribution centre is powered by 100% renewable energy and has an onsite solar farm.
We round all that off by giving 5% of profits to sustainable charities.
Giving back
We wanted Ohelo to be socially responsible from day 1 – to be one of the good guys. On founding Ohelo we decided that 5% of all our profits would be donated to charitable organisations. As we grow that should mean we are donating more money to good causes.
We are proud to be a member of Surfers Against Sewage Ocean Network, supporting them in their fight to clean up our seas and fight against plastic pollution.
Stay tuned in to our blogs to discover which charities are benefitting when you purchase an Ohelo product.
Keeping it personal
We are not a faceless multinational. We are a family business, in fact it’s just the two of us (if you don’t count the two sausage dogs), and we love that. We put everything we have in to making products that will make your everyday a little more special, that look super stylish and perform like a dream. We aim to make beautiful reusables the new normal. We are so excited to share this huge adventure we are on with all of you. Together we can make a difference! Let’s do it!
