BRITA GmbH is a German company founded in 1966 by Heinz Hankammer with headquarters in Taunusstein, Hesse, Germany, that specializes in water filters. The company has production facilities in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy and China. BRITA products are distributed worldwide, reaching more than 60 countries. BRITA products include water jugs, kettles and tap attachments, all of which use silver-impregnated activated carbon and ion-exchange resin disposable filters as their primary filtering mechanism. The activated carbon used in BRITA filters is produced from coconut shells. The company manufactures its pitchers from styrene methyl methacrylate copolymer.
In the United Kingdom, Hinari and Breville sell electric kettles incorporating BRITA technology.
The BRITA filter is not intended to purify water, and should not be used with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality. Individuals requiring microbiological purity should follow the advice of local health officials for water purification.
Functions of BRITA Filters
Brita claims the filters have a double action:
- The activated carbon removes substances that may impair taste, such as chlorine and chlorine compounds (where present).
- The ion exchange resin used reduces the carbonate hardness (limescale), accordingly softening tap water, and reduces metals, such as copper and lead, that can occur as a result of domestic installation.
It is noted that BRITA cartridge is not designed to remove fluoride. While naturally occurring fluoride is present in fresh water, some cities and water companies add sodium fluoride or hydrofluorosilicic acid to their water.
History
BRITA started in 1966 when Heinz Hankammer had the idea of optimizing normal tap water. He named the company after his daughter Brita. Its headquarters are in Taunusstein near Wiesbaden in Germany.
In 1988, The Clorox Company, based in Oakland, California, entered in a licensing-and-distribution agreement with the German company for North and South America. In 1995, it added the Canadian rights by acquiring Canada’s Brita International Holdings. In 2000, Clorox acquired the sole rights to the brand in the Americas and BRITA agreed to a non-compete clause until 2005. In 2008, BRITA returned to the North American market under the brand Mavea.
Social responsibility
In autumn 2010, BRITA’s United Kingdom branch collaborated with fashion designer Orla Kiely to support the Breast Cancer Care Charity, which provides professional support and expert information to those affected by breast cancer. The partnership released a limited-edition Hydration Pack containing a water filter jug, three filter cartridges; and a reusable water bottle designed by Kiely and made of 100 percent recycled materials. For every pack sold, BRITA donated £1 to the Breast Cancer Care Charity. The owner of BRITA, Markus Hankammer, is the chairman of German 3rd Liga club SV Wehen Wiesbaden. When Heinz Hankammer was the owner, he promised them that if they were promoted to the 2.Fußball-Bundesliga he would build them a new stadium in Wiesbaden. They did, and hence the BRITA-Arena was built. BRITA is sponsored all over the stadium as well as on the shirt. Markus Hankammer is now the chairman, as his father, Heinz Hankammer, retired.
BRITA's FilterForGood campaign partnered with artists such as Jason Mraz to encourage fans, as well as artists and crew members, to reduce bottled water waste. The centerpiece of BRITA’s campaign is free filtered water for fans and the local volunteer and community service outreach projects and environmental organizations. BRITA’s FilterForGood Campaign inspired more than 374,000 people to take a pledge to reduce their bottled water waste, keeping an estimated 381 million disposable water bottles out of landfills.
See also
- Water filter
- Pur
- Soma
References
External links
- Brita global website
- Brita UK Web site