Campaign logo and artwork © Christopher Cowell

Throttle the Bottle is a campaign dedicated to reducing the use of throwaway plastic water bottles, which are already a blight across the landscapes of Africa. These bottles are not bio-degradable and take more than 450 years to break down. They leach toxins into the soil and water sources and get eaten by animals, often with disastrous consequences.

We have contacted over 250 camp and lodge operators throughout East Africa, along with tourism associations and environmental groups, asking for their support for our campaign and the response has been great

We are promoting the use of safe, bulk, drinking water options for people whilst on safari – in lodges and camps, cars and during activities – and encouraging everyone to have re-usable, stainless steel, individual water bottles to use, both on holiday and back at home.

The facebook page Throttle.The.Bottle will provide news and information on everything to do with water and reducing plastic waste, along with ideas on how to help, as well as profiling companies and people that are making a difference.

Check out the list of People making a difference on our website to see which companies are already taking this issue seriously and Friends of Throttle the Bottle for the organisations and tour operators that are supporting the campaign.

Plastic is not bio-degradable. It just breaks up into tiny pieces over time and remains plastic. It will take a water bottle well over 450 years to break down completely.

Cheetah cubs, taken by Pius Olekoyianto