VALUE-ORIENTED CONSCIOUS BUSINESS LEOGANT BRINGS SUSTAINABLE WATER FILTERS TO COMPANIES
VALUE-ORIENTED CONSCIOUS BUSINESS LEOGANT BRINGS SUSTAINABLE WATER FILTERS TO COMPANIES
Published in Wallstreet-Online on 27.05.2021, Guest author: Seyit Binbir
Self-made entrepreneur Thomas Hartwig founded the now multi-million dollar company LEOGANT from his one-room apartment at the age of 28.
Today, the early 40-year-old Berliner is one of the established companies in the field of water treatment. His customers include well-known companies from the hotel and gastronomy sectors, as well as brands such as the BRLO brewery and Adidas. He has remained true to his values since day one and proves with his success that ethical entrepreneurship and economic success can go hand in hand. We asked him about his success story.
You led a very different life before founding LEOGANT. What was the turning point?
After 10 years in the night gastronomy business, a collaboration that I had put a lot of effort into ended unexpectedly. That was a big disappointment. After that, I withdrew for a year to devote myself entirely to my passion, the Chinese martial art Kung Fu. I also used this time to think, especially about a real purpose in my life. It became increasingly important to me to contribute to social development. I was interested in the connection between economic success and sustainable commitment. In my opinion, we urgently needed and still need more value-oriented companies. We can no longer live at the expense of others and the environment. Among other things, I was inspired by the story of Patagonia. I wanted to found a company in which ethical action and sustainable values form the basis with a new work ethos.
What exactly inspired you to dedicate yourself to natural water treatment?
During my time out, I trained an average of 20 hours a week. When you do so much sport, you drink a lot. As a native of Munich, I was used to always drinking tap water. On recommendation, I then switched to spring water in glass bottles from the organic market and noticed a significant difference in my performance, body feeling and regeneration. That's when a new world opened up. What was so special about spring water? How does it physically differ from tap water? Isn't water just water? Through my interest in modern physics and health, I began to study the subject of water and found my new passion. As a restaurateur, I wondered whether it would be possible to turn tap water back into premium bottled water. That would not only be cheaper, but also more sustainable. Considering that the entire food and beverage sector is a huge cause of packaging waste and transport, this idea increasingly inspired me. In Germany alone, around 17 billion plastic bottles are used every year.
When I searched the water market, I unfortunately found nothing that came close to my experience with spring water from the organic market in terms of quality. The deeper I delved into the subject, the more I understood that there were already good individual components. As with a good dish, however, it is not only the ingredients, but the right combination and a skillful touch that makes the difference. This is how the first LEOGANT water concept was created in my one-room apartment from what I considered to be the best components on the market. I finally specialized in this. You can think of us as a kind of car tuning workshop - but for water filters. We use components from the market, produce our own individual series, pimp and refine them; always with a focus on the water and its natural quality - like fresh spring water. This results in tailor-made solutions that are particularly attractive for the Horeca sector. Producing your own premium water at negligible costs while drastically reducing waste and CO2 consumption at the same time. A fair price for the guest creates a win-win situation for everyone.
What would you describe as your recipe for success?
I always listen to my gut feeling and only do what feels right. I always focus on creating real win-win-win situations between my customers, the environment and my company. Basically, I'm still a host and our customers feel that. I don't care how much a customer spends with us, as long as they get exactly the product that suits them best. My ingredients are: sincerity, precision and aesthetics. I am only satisfied when my customer is. Money was never my main motivation. Money is a consequence for me. Today's million-dollar turnover without any acquisition, with exclusively organic growth, confirms to me that I have chosen the right path.
You have built a large, personal network and created a welcoming atmosphere with the showroom. Was this development planned from the start?
Bruce Lee's famous quote "Be Water My Friend" is my motto and a slogan of my company. It's about simply letting things flow. LEOGANT arose from within itself. It started with the vision of changing the importance of water in society and at the same time running a company in which I don't have to lie to myself or anyone else. With the profit from the first filter systems, a shelf was bought, then a small office was rented, and later the first employee was hired. When planning the showroom seven years ago, I asked myself for the first time "Where do I want to go?". Until then, I just let it flow. One customer led to the next and so on. The reason is not a goal, but the thing itself. I love my work and as long as I stay true to my feelings, opportunities will come my way. Some are good, some are bad. LEOGANT is the sum of the decisions I have made along the way, the majority of which were the right ones.
Compliance with the Drinking Water Ordinance guarantees clean water from the tap in German offices. How clean is our water really and should we question the quality standard more strongly?
I always give the same answer to this question. Our tap water is good and I am grateful to live in a country where potable water comes from the tap. However, it is not a premium product. We also have supermarkets with shelves full of food that is approved according to the Food Ordinance. Nevertheless, I only buy organic food. Why? Because I set a higher standard for myself. The Drinking Water Ordinance or Food Ordinance are not there to classify which foods are of high quality. They are there to protect us from becoming immediately ill. I predominantly want to put things into my body that make it healthy. Anyone who has this aspiration for themselves should question the quality standards. Since humans consist almost predominantly of water, I start right here to set my standard: Natural water in spring water quality. That tastes good and is good for you. Even flowers last a week longer in this water. That's what I want to drink.
What other projects can we look forward to in the future?
Water is always moving, and ideas never run out. A new showroom is being planned where the fascination of water can be further explored through the medium of art. We are working with selected manufacturers on our own product lines, and exciting new partnerships are in discussion. Post LEOGANT, I have a vision for a non-profit that will represent a kind of water collective of different players in the market with a shared ethical mission.