TWO Teesside University students have launched a business which could change the way water is sold, and have pledged to pour a percentage of their profits back into projects in their African homeland.

Patience Katsama and Khulani Ndebele are both from Zimbabwe and have been studying and living in Middlesbrough for several years.

Their enterprise, for which they are receiving support from business, legal and funding experts in the region, is to market drinking water in recyclable packaging.

Known as Manzi Blue – manzi is Zulu for water – they are about to start marketing it to colleges, universities and care homes, followed by targeting it at gyms, health stores, vending machines and, ultimately, supermarkets.

The world’s best-known maker of paper packaging, Tetra Pak, is creating the cartons, which will hold 330ml of locally-sourced and packaged natural spring water.

The couple have received legal advice from intellectual property specialist Matthew Rippon, of BHP Law, who has registered their limited company and applied for a trademark for Manzi Blue.

Ms Katsama, who has a degree in tourism management and is now studying for a masters degree in international management at Teesside University, said they first got the idea four years ago.

“It started when we saw a story on the news about how much waste we produce. We began thinking about drinks containers and how water is only ever available in nonenvironmentally friendly plastic or cans,” she said.

“Many drinks come in sustainable packaging – fruit juices, smoothies and milk. We started researching why water was not. We found it does cost a little bit more, which may be why the big companies haven’t done it yet.”

Mr Ndebele, who has been on Teesside for eight years and graduated in applied sciences and forensic investigations before starting a masters degree in forensic science, added: “It’s important that the business does well, not just for us but also because we are going to donate a percentage of any profits to clean water initiatives in Africa.

“It’s not been easy for a start-up like us to develop a supplier relationship with a global business like Tetra Pak, but the fact that we have I think shows they’ve got confidence in us.”

Mr Rippon said: “In terms of research into their product, the packaging and the market, Patience and Khulani have really put the work in. It’s impossible not to be inspired by what they’ve achieved.

“They admit to having little experience in business so I have been delighted to support them, together with my professional colleagues, to ensure they have all the right protections in place.”

BHP Law worked in collaboration with Stephen Slater of RMT accountants and business advisors, who has helped with funding, cashflow projections and other financial issues, and business consultant Ross Golightly, of Sphera Consulting, who is advising on commercialisation, supply chains and potential sources of funding.