Founder Shawn Green discusses Sprudel’s journey from its inception in 2014, to its innovative approach to providing sustainable water solutions, emphasising local manufacturing, reducing plastic waste, and fostering environmental and economic contributions.

What inspired the founding of Sprudel in 2014, and how has the company’s mission evolved since then?

Even before it began, all of Sprudel’s ingredients were 100% homegrown. I was raised in Dubai and Sharjah in the 1990s. It was also common practice to ride bicycles around town with pals and sip water from the stainless-steel water coolers outside of people’s villas back then. We used the coolers at school to replenish our reusable bottles. It was when I got to Germany that my “aha” moment began to develop. I spent nine years there and experienced some perspective-shifting things for the first time: seeing mains-fed sparkling water dispensers, and society’s approach to drinking water. Since I’ve always considered the UAE to be my home and had a wonderful upbringing there, I felt compelled to return and contribute to the environment. I decided to give it a go, and Sprudel was created. After a decade in business, our objective remains mostly unchanged.

We provide an alternative solution to single-use plastic water bottles, with a focus on safety and customer service. We understand the concern about whether tap water is safe to drink, so we test our filtered water to both municipal and WHO standards.

We haven’t lost a client in the past ten years, so I’ll take that as evidence that we’re headed in the right direction.

How does Sprudel’s commitment to local manufacturing within the UAE contribute to reducing its carbon footprint?

What’s a sight to behold is all the ways this approach is sustainable, for everyone involved. Our approach minimises the need for long-distance shipping which naturally cuts down on gas emissions that are a part of current transportation.

We are able to witness and closely observe every stage of the manufacturing process thanks to local manufacturing, which provides us with a genuinely hands-on experience. This aids in maintaining the highest level of environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. In addition to reducing our ecological footprint, sourcing products locally boosts the regional economy. Overall, the business strategy is now more sustainable.

What are the specific challenges and advantages of producing water filtration systems entirely within the UAE?

Finding talent and solutions that align with our quality standards – and need for delivery on time – is a challenge. But the talent does exist, if you search for it.

Sourcing certain specialised components locally can be difficult too.

However, local production allows for greater quality control and better turnaround times overall. It also enables us to custom-make our products to suit the specific needs of our hotel clients in the region. Each hotel system is distinctly unique, so we must be able to offer the best possible solution.

How has Sprudel’s partnership with Zabeel House impacted both the hotel and its guests’ perceptions of sustainability?

This collaboration has produced several successes. It has improved the hotel’s sustainability credentials and brought attention to the pressing need to minimise plastic waste among visitors. Visitors value and find inspiration in the hotel’s dedication to sustainability.

They frequently voice their support for the project, and this collaboration is demonstrating to the industry that luxury and sustainability can coexist together. This serves as a crystal-clear, excellent model for other hotels in the area.

What are some key milestones Sprudel has achieved in terms of reducing plastic waste since its inception?

It began in 2014 when we signed our first corporate client, who remains with us to this day. In 2017, we secured our first multi-location client. By 2020, our primary focus was to stay grounded and wait out the pandemic. In 2021, we introduced our Closed-loop Bottling System (CBS), which I initially experimented with in my backyard. By 2022, CBS had won its first hotel client as a Made in the Emirates product. Now, we save 35 million plastic bottles annually in partnership with over 120 clients.

What innovative features or technologies distinguish Sprudel’s water filtration systems from other sustainable water solutions in the market?

We offer a higher level of carbonation than your typical product. The solution is great, but service is what helps us stand apart from the competition.  We care deeply about customer satisfaction and support, and our clients appreciate this too, with us retaining every single one of them over the past 10 years.

What future initiatives or projects does Sprudel have in the pipeline to further enhance its environmental and economic contributions?

We have several exciting plans and projects in the pipeline to add even more environmental and economic value. Our plan to expand our local manufacturing capabilities is one of them, creating more jobs and supporting the UAE economy.

The ultimate goal is to continue innovating and leading the way in sustainable water solutions and behavioural shifts, positively impacting everything we touch.