Natural Source Waters Association

What Natural Source Waters Association does

The Natural Source Waters Association (NSWA) is a UK trade association, formed in September 2019 to replace the Natural Hydration Council, that represents the majority of natural source water producers operating in the United Kingdom. Its membership comprises eight producers and leading importers — Brecon Mineral Water, Danone Waters, Harrogate Water Brands, Highland Spring Group, Montgomery Waters, Nestlé Waters UK, Shepley Spring, and Wenlock Spring — collectively accounting for approximately 60% of UK bottled water purchases and around 20% of the UK soft drinks category by volume. NSWA does not sell or produce water itself; it operates as an advocacy body funded by membership fees and member-directed campaign contributions, with a headcount of 1–10 staff based in Chiswick.

NSWA's core remit is policy advocacy, consumer education, and environmental stewardship on behalf of its members. It engages policymakers in Westminster, Scotland, and Wales to integrate hydration into the National Food Strategy (including the June 2025 'Flowing Forward' Health Manifesto launch at Parliament), commissions original consumer research (e.g., hydration confusion surveys generating BBC coverage), and runs environmental campaigns such as the #InTheLoop on-the-go recycling programme with Hubbub. Members collectively protect approximately 350,000 acres of UK land around their water sources — an area equivalent to the Peak District National Park — including Highland Spring Group's 2,500 acres of organically accredited Ochil Hills land and Nestlé Waters UK's 190-acre Derbyshire stewardship with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

The association is a co-funder of the £1 billion+ industry investment in a UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme, delivered through the not-for-profit body Exchange for Change and going live in October 2027, which is expected to raise recycling rates from ~70% to 90%+ and create ~4,000 circular-economy jobs. NSWA provides no software or technology product; its principal "products" are advocacy assets — the Flowing Forward manifesto, factsheets on healthy hydration (covering exercise, workplace, early years, pregnancy, dental, and kidney health), and category data — alongside member-company brands including Highland Spring, Highland Spring Flavoured Still Water, Brecon Carreg, Buxton, Nestlé Pure Life, Harrogate, Montgomery, Shepley, and Wenlock Spring.

Name

Natural Source Waters Association

Legal name

Natural Source Waters Association

Website

https://naturalsourcewaters.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Natural Source Waters Association (NSWA) is a UK trade association representing eight producers and importers — including Nestlé Waters UK, Danone Waters, and Highland Spring Group — that collectively hold roughly 60% of UK bottled water purchases. Founded in 2019, NSWA advocates for healthy hydration policy, environmental stewardship of 350,000 acres of source land, and the implementation of a UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme launching October 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association / Industry Advocacy

NAICS

Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Natural mineral water
• Spring water bottling
• Bottled water trade association
• Healthy hydration advocacy
• Deposit return scheme

Headquarters

HQ city

Chiswick

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees / association dues: NSWA generates revenue through membership fees paid by its member companies (Brecon Mineral Water, Danone Waters, Harrogate Water Brands, Highland Spring Group, Montgomery Waters, Nestlé Waters UK, Shepley Spring, Wenlock Spring). Members represent the majority of natural source water producers in the UK and leading importers. The association funds advocacy, research, communications, and policy engagement on behalf of members.
2. Member-funded environmental and health campaigns: Members collectively invest in industry-wide initiatives including the UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme (over £1 billion industry investment), #InTheLoop on-the-go recycling programme, health education campaigns (e.g., hydration gap research, Health Manifesto), and environmental partnerships with NGOs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Natural Source Waters Association (NSWA) is a UK trade association that represents the majority of natural source water producers in the UK. It provides policy advocacy, public health communications, environmental campaigns, and industry coordination on issues including hydration policy and the UK Deposit Return Scheme, funded by member dues from companies such as Brecon Carreg, Highland Spring Group, Nestlé Waters UK, Danone Waters, Harrogate Water Brands, Montgomery Waters, Shepley Spring and Wenlock Spring.

Product overview

The Natural Source Waters Association (NSWA) is a trade association representing producers of natural source waters in the UK, not a product company with a unified platform. Its member companies produce natural mineral water, spring water, and bottled drinking water under various brand names including Highland Spring (with sub-brands Speyside Glenlivet and Hydr8), Brecon Carreg, Danone Waters, Harrogate Water Brands, Montgomery Waters, Nestlé Waters UK, Shepley Spring, and Wenlock Spring. NSWA itself advocates for healthy hydration through its 'Flowing Forward' health manifesto and supports industry initiatives like the Deposit Return Scheme. The association does not offer a technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NSWA Trade Association Membership Membership programme for UK natural source water producers and importers providing category representation, policy advocacy in Westminster, Scotland and Wales, original consumer research, communications support, and collective engagement on environmental and regulatory initiatives.
• Flowing Forward Health Manifesto Industry advocacy publication positioning natural source waters as a public health solution and calling on UK Government to integrate hydration into national dietary policy.
• Deposit Return Scheme Industry Coordination Industry-wide coordination programme supporting the rollout of the UK Deposit Return Scheme, including £1bn+ collective member investment, retailer alignment, and recycling rate targets above 90%.
• Hydration Research and Consumer Surveys Original consumer and category research published by NSWA to support advocacy, generate earned media coverage, and inform member and policymaker decisions on hydration and drink choice.

Quantifiable outcome

• DRS expected to increase UK recycling rates from ~70% to over 90%
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WRAP UK Plastic PactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSWA is a member of the WRAP UK Plastic Pact, supporting efforts to ensure all packaging is recyclable and recycled. The Plastic Pact brings together businesses, governments, and NGOs to tackle plastic waste through the circular economy.
• British Dietetic AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSWA is a supporter of the British Dietetic Association and works closely with them to promote the benefits of drinking water, recognising the role natural source waters play alongside municipal tap water.
• Oral Health FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSWA is a supporter of the Oral Health Foundation and supports their efforts to encourage drinking water to protect teeth from dental erosion.
• HubbubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSWA partners with environmental charity Hubbub on the #InTheLoop on-the-go recycling campaign. NSWA provided £25,000 in funding for new recycling bins in Blackpool (20 bins along the promenade) and Haringey/Tottenham (18 bins along Tottenham High Road). The campaign helps capture plastic bottles and cans for recycling ahead of the DRS launch.
• Woodland TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighland Spring Group partnered with the Woodland Trust (UK's largest woodland conservation charity) in March 2026. The partnership focuses on woodland creation and restoration across 1,200 hectares at Glen Devon Woodlands in the Ochil Hills, Perthshire. It builds on Highland Spring's existing 2,500 acres of protected organic land, enhancing biodiversity and protecting the natural environment surrounding the Highland Spring water source.
• SSE Energy SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighland Spring Group partnered with clean energy company SSE Energy Solutions to develop a 7-megawatt, 23-acre solar farm in the Ochil Hills, Perthshire. SSE manages the installation and running of the solar site. The project will supply up to 25% of Highland Spring Group's electricity needs at its Blackford site, with construction starting summer 2025 and full operation by early 2026. Additional community benefits include free electricity for Blackford Primary School and EV chargers for community use.
• Derbyshire Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNestlé Waters & Premium Beverages UK partners with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on a 10-year dedicated land stewardship programme. The partnership spans 190 acres of land in Derbyshire, focusing on protecting and regenerating Lightwood Reservoir and former Cowdale Quarry — where some of the site's water sources are based. Objectives include enhancing biodiversity, safeguarding water quality, and creating lasting benefits for the local community. The partnership celebrated its halfway mark (five years) in February 2026.
• First MilkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNestlé partnered with farmer-owned dairy co-operative First Milk in Pembrokeshire (where Princes Gate water is bottled). The project promotes regenerative farming practices, providing local farmers dedicated support and interventions to promote soil health, increase water infiltration, and reduce run-off, with the goal of capturing an additional 250 million litres of groundwater each year.
• Hubbub (Highland Spring Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighland Spring Group partners with Hubbub as one of its external sustainability and community partners.
• The Soil AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighland Spring Group works with The Soil Association as an external partner, supporting organic land management practices.
• Launch FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighland Spring Group works with Launch Foods as an external partner, likely related to product development or market access.
• Scottish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighland Spring Group received £4.47 million in funding from the Scottish Government to support its rail freight facility, enabling sustainable transportation of goods and reducing carbon footprint.
• Exchange for Change (formerly UK DMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange for Change (formerly UK Deposit Management Organisation) is the not-for-profit body established by industry to design and deliver the Deposit Return Scheme across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, going live October 2027. NSWA and its members have worked alongside other trade associations, drinks producers, and retailers to establish this DMO. The scheme covers PET plastic, steel and aluminium containers (150ml–3 litres) and is expected to increase recycling rates from ~70% to over 90% and create 4,000 jobs.
• Shepley SpringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShepley Spring has a representative on the Board of the UK DMO (Exchange for Change), contributing expertise from an international DRS context to the scheme's design.
• Coca-Cola Europacific PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoca-Cola Europacific Partners has a Board seat on the UK DMO (Exchange for Change), bringing experience from international DRS markets.
• Heineken UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeineken UK has a Board seat on the UK DMO (Exchange for Change), contributing to scheme design.
• LidlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLidl has a Board seat on the UK DMO (Exchange for Change), representing the retail perspective in scheme design.
• TescominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTesco has a Board seat on the UK DMO (Exchange for Change), representing major retail in scheme design.
• Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-op has a Board seat on the UK DMO (Exchange for Change), representing convenience retail in scheme design.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nswa
• Xx.com/nswa_uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Natural Source Waters Association