A Scottish entrepreneur has developed a new eco-friendly bottle that could help combat the growing mountain of plastic litter entering the world\u2019s oceans. Edinburgh-based chemistry graduate James Longcroft launched a not-for-profit bottled water firm two years ago, with the aim of ploughing all profits into a charity focused on providing clean drinking water to remote communities in Africa. Inventor James Longcroft on Granton Harbour Wall Inventor James Longcroft on Granton Harbour Wall But the 27-year-old soon realised the product, although it was benefiting struggling villagers in some of the world\u2019s poorest regions, was adding to an increasing blight on the environment.<\/p>\n
So last year he vowed to go plastic-free \u2013 his company, Choose Water, has sold no plastic bottles since. But that meant he had to find another way to continue funding the charitable works. After months of experiments at his kitchen table, he has now managed to create a novel bottle that he believes could revolutionise the industry. The prototype of the biodegradable bottle, which uses no fossil fuels in its production The prototype of the biodegradable bottle, which uses no fossil fuels in its production It is fully biodegradable, made from sustainable plant-based materials, uses no fossil fuels in its production and can actually benefit wildlife and the landscape when it breaks down. The plastic-free container decomposes within about three weeks in seawater, compared with hundreds, even thousands, of years for its plastic equivalent. It can also be harmlessly eaten by sea creatures and can neutralise acidic soils.<\/p>\n
Longcroft said: \u201cMy fianc\u00e9e was in dismay when I was trying to create the bottle as it was very messy. But we\u2019ve got a base in Fife now that has allowed us to develop a viable prototype. \u201cThe liner is the key. The outside is made from recycled paper, but the inside had to be waterproof, provide strength so the bottle would retain its structure, and keep the water fresh \u2013 just like plastic. \u201cWe\u2019ve managed to do all that, which is pretty exciting. \u201cIt\u2019s made with a combination of natural, sustainable materials. I\u2019ve just mixed some stuff together from trees and plants \u2013 they\u2019re all natural. \u201cThe ingredients were developed by nature and are by-products of larger industries, which makes them competitively priced when compared with plastics.\u201d Now he wants to roll out production from a new Fife premises. To do this he hopes to raise at least \u00a325,000 to buy new moulds and machinery to produce the bottles on a commercial scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe only have one planet and we need to act now to make sure we protect it for future generations,\u201d said Longcroft. \u201cWe really want to get our bottles on shelves and into people\u2019s hands as soon as possible \u2013 if we can stop even one plastic bottle ending up in the environment it will be worth it. The main hurdle we face is breaking into a saturated market and competing with an old and established industry. \u201cChanging an industry will be a massive uphill battle but with the public\u2019s support we will change the way we look at bottled water. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look shelf-ready yet because we need to get new moulds and new machinery, which is why we\u2019re crowd-funding.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Longcroft is eager to keep control of his invention. \u201cWe want to launch it ourselves, because it can do great things for charity \u2013 any profits we make will go to help poor communities in Africa get access to safe, clean drinking water. But I want it to go global.\u201d<\/p>\n
The prototypes are hand-made and the water is sourced from England, but the inventor is in talks with spring owners in Scotland with a view to creating a Scottish bottled water. Longcroft is launching his crowd-funding drive on Tuesday, looking for backers to help get his vision off the ground.<\/p>\n