Businesses offering free water could attract more custom

Two thirds of Brits would be more likely to make a purchase in a business if they can refill a reusable water bottle for free, a survey has revealed.

A YouGov survey of 2,000 people, on behalf of Brita Professional and the Keep Britain Tidy charity, found that 64% of consumers would be more likely to return for future purchases if they could fill up their water bottles for free, while 62% said they would choose a business that offered free refills over a competitor.

Almost three quarters (73%) said they would view a business more favourably if it gave free tap or filtered water on request.

The research is part of Brita's #SwapForGood campaign, which aims to help eradicate the use of single-use plastic bottles.

In recent months there has been a shift against single use plastics and three quarters (73%) of respondents said they would be encouraged to use a reusable bottle if they could help themselves to drinking water in shops or cafés and not need to ask staff for it, while almost two thirds (63%) think food and drink businesses should be required to provide free tap or filtered water to anyone who asks for it.

Sarah Taylor, managing director of Brita UK said: "The damage single-use plastic is doing to our marine and wider environment and marine life has been well documented, and it is clear many people are committed to tackling this.

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