Auckland Startup Anew Redesigns Water Bottles, Goes Global

Jayden Klinac stood in an Auckland service station staring at rows of water bottles, all destined for the trash after one use. That moment of frustration became Anew, a company now selling sustainable water bottles across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Asia.

Anew sells alkaline water in bottles designed to be kept and refilled, not tossed. The plant-based bottles are free from microplastics and BPA, carbon negative to produce, and fully recyclable when their long life finally ends.

The company started in a spare room in 2019 before Klinac joined GridAKL, Auckland Council's innovation hub in Wynyard Quarter. The workspace and network helped Anew secure investment and scale from local startup to international business.

Today, Anew bottles sit on shelves in more than 500 New Zealand outlets and hundreds more internationally. Recent expansion includes 200 BP stations across Australia and upscale grocery chain Sprouts in the United States.

The impact goes beyond individual purchases. At Auckland's Laneway Festival this year, Anew sold limited-edition refillable bottles paired with free water refill stations, helping festivalgoers avoid single-use plastics while taking home a bottle they could reuse.

The Ripple Effect

That single-day festival intervention prevented nearly two tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere. Food packaging and drink containers create massive waste at large events, and Anew's model shows a practical path forward.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown calls the company exactly what the city should support. "This is a Kiwi company solving a real environmental problem, creating economic value and taking Auckland innovation to the world," he said.

GridAKL General Manager Pam Ford sees Anew as proof the innovation hub works. The center has supported Auckland founders for 11 years, turning local ideas into global solutions.

What began as one person's choice between bad options is now helping reshape how millions think about bottled water.