Not even a pandemic can slow down the CBD market. Among the latest entrepreneurs to recognise its potential is BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie, who managed to sneak in the launch of his latest venture, the UK’s first carbon neutral CBD company, before 2020 (fortunately) comes to an end. Here we learn more about his move from craft beer to CBD and why Calm Drinks should be another CBD brand that’s on your radar.
HBHM
With HBHM, which stands for Healthy Body Healthy Mind, co-founder Martin Dickie, who discovered CBD while struggling to sleep while travelling in America in 2018, is keen to make sure the CBD industry has a positive impact. Like his other sustainably focused business BrewDog, HBHM’s range of CBD oils, which includes a natural 1200mg oil and two naturally flavoured oils, free from sugar and artificial sweeteners, are also sustainably packaged.
HBHM has launched with a clear focus on being carbon neutral from field to delivery, and will focus on its sustainable output at every level, including using only recyclable materials for its product packaging and using packaging made from recycled materials wherever possible.
Why did you decide to launch HBHM?
Martin says: “In these challenging times we are living in, we started HBHM to be a company that focuses on the wellbeing of our customers and the wellbeing of our planet.
“We wanted to provide a trusted source of CBD isolate that tastes great and is good for our planet. It’s something I could not find on the market so I made it myself!”
Why is being carbon neutral important?
“As consumers ourselves, we are steadfastly focused on the quality and authenticity of the ingredients and ensuring the whole supply chain is ethically minded. We don’t want our products to have a negative impact on our beautiful planet.
“We focus heavily on working with great partners for sourcing our ingredients and packaging. We will make sure that any carbon emissions that are generated during the entire supply chain of the product – from seed to the bottle you receive at your door – is fully offset with new tree plantings in our own forest in Stirlingshire. We think that is very important.
“Carbon-neutral business is the only acceptable business these days.”
Do you think the CBD market needs to be better regulated?
“I think it is imperative that consumers know exactly what they are putting in their bodies. Each batch of our CBD isolate oil has a code on the bottle that links to a test certificate on our website. This third-party test shows exactly what is in the product.”
Finally, what advice would you give to someone taking on the CBD market?
“Love what you do, love science and understand the regulations.”
HBHM oils are available in the UK now at www.hbhm.com.
Calm Drinks
Calm Drinks’s large social media following and celebrity clientele is down to its innovative products and impressive flavours.
With health at the forefront of people’s minds more than ever, UK-based food and beverage brand Calm launched the world’s first CBD drink infused with multi-vitamins and minerals earlier this year. The orange-flavoured sparkling water is infused with 14 different vitamins and minerals (including vitamins A, B, C, D, E and folic acid), specifically chosen to help boost and support your immune system and give you 100% of your daily nutrient reference value in just one can.
Like the rest of the brand’s range, which includes a zero-sugar cola, mixed berry sparkling water, cold brew coffee and Belgian hot chocolate, it is also infused with CBD and offers 10mg in each can. We caught up with owner Tom Curle to discover the inspiration for the brand and his tips for success.
What can we credit the launch of Calm Drinks to?
“The idea for Calm came about originally due to one of the owners suffering from anxiety from drinking too much black coffee. After researching anxiety causes and treatments online, he came across CBD in many articles, and wanted to try mixing it with coffee to ascertain whether it worked for him. The results were personally very good for him, so he decided to find a great coffee to mix the CBD with and Calm was born.”
Do you think the CBD market needs to be better regulated?
“The CBD market needs to be better regulated but that doesn’t necessarily mean more regulation. I believe there needs to be a set of requirements and rules for labelling, testing and marketing, which is managed by an independent group (such as The Portman Group within alcohol).
“Currently, there are many brands making medical claims of the benefits of CBD, which is forbidden. As a responsible company, we don’t do this and this gives a sales advantage to those who do not play by the rules.”
What are your tips for newcomers to the CBD market?
“For new companies entering the market, I would advise the same principles as other industries, make sure you have a great product, with great branding, at a good price point and be prepared to go the extra mile where your competitors will not.”
Calm Drinks are available to purchase at www.calmdrinks.co.uk and will shortly be available in other online and in-store retailers.
