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Private company

Ethos Water

Logo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Brand of bottled water

Ethos Water is an American brand of bottled water with a social mission of "helping children get clean water. " A Starbucks subsidiary, Ethos began in 2001 when Peter Thum had the idea after working in communities in South Africa that lacked access to clean water. Thum, who was working as consultant for McKinsey & Company at the time, realized the potential to create a bottled water brand to raise awareness and funding for safe water programs.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

2001Founded1

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Starbucks Ethos water
Photo: thefuturistics, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Ethos Water is an American brand of bottled water with a social mission of "helping children get clean water." A Starbucks subsidiary, Ethos began in 2001 when Peter Thum had the idea after working in communities in South Africa that lacked access to clean water. Thum, who was working as consultant for McKinsey & Company at the time, realized the potential to create a bottled water brand to raise awareness and funding for safe water programs. The idea became an obsession for Thum, and he wrote the business plan for Ethos, left McKinsey, and moved to New York in early 2002 to start the venture.2

The story

Founded by Peter Thum in 2001.1

Leadership

Who has led Ethos Water, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • bottled water

Listed on Wikidata.1

Subsidiaries and ownership

Owners

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 2001Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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