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LOVING

MEMOBOTTLE

DESIGNERS

interview

john mcdonald

THE MEMOBOTTLE was born from two frustrations.

The first was the damaging effect of single-use

bottles on our environment. Human convenience

is often the catalyst for devastating climate damage

• so to make a positive change and impact on the
  environment we needed to create something that
  offered improved human convenience coupled with
  a clear environmental advantage. THE SECOND
  FRUSTRATION was the inability to fit water bottles in
  the laptop bags that we carried to work. We found it
  intriguing that all bottles were round. Bottles hadn’t
  changed shape in decades yet tablets, laptops and
  computer bags were all flat in their design. We
  decided to flip the equation. IN AUGUST 2014,
  after months of preparation, we launched on
  crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. We had a target
  goal of $15,000, but after 45 days of the campaign
  we were fortunate enough to receive support from
  6118 backers and over $261,000 in funding.
  THE BOTTLE is designed around two international
  paper sizes – A5 and A6. The A6 fits in your pocket
  or handbag, or can be held while jogging. The A5
  neatly slides into your carry bag. WE WERE IN different
  countries [Australia and America] when we started
  the business. This had its challenges, but the
  distance also helped us realise what sort of business
  we wanted to be. Neither we nor our employees are
  location-specific – we are constantly travelling the
  world meeting customers and suppliers and having
  the flexibility to work while experiencing a little of
  what this world has to offer. It’s a beautiful thing. R

JESSE LEEWORTHY AND JONATHAN BYRT CREATED THE

MEMOBOTTLE, AN ECO-FRIENDLY WAY TO CARRY H 20

[ ABOUT THE LADS ]

JESSE AND JONATHAN GREW

UP TOGETHER IN VICTORIA.

FED UP WITH DISPOSABLE WATER

BOTTLES, THEY DID SOMETHING

ABOUT IT. MEMOBOTTLE.COM

Celebrity gift

The bottles are made from

BPA-free plastic and were

in the Oscars (Academy

Awards) goody bag this year!

MEMO

Memobottle, from

$34 for A6 (19.5cm

long; 375ml),

Memobottle.com

$1 from every online

order is donated to

Water.org

JONATHAN

BYRT

JESSE

LEEWORTHY

@reallivingmag

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