Echo, the hydrogen water specialist behind the Echo Flask, is reflecting on its decision to move manufacturing out of China and relocate production to the Philippines—a shift that has saved the company an estimated $9.8 million this year alone by avoiding rising costs and shipping disruptions.
“We believed tariffs were coming, and we acted,” Echo CEO Josh Carr said. “Now other brands are watching their costs spike—and they’re out of time to pivot. We’re already operating at full speed. It’s not just about lead times—it’s about insulation. We can absorb price volatility because we invested in flexibility before it was urgent.”
Despite the pay off, Carr noted that the decision wasn’t easy.
“When you move out of China, you don’t just lose a factory—you become the factory,” Carr said. “We had to build supplier relationships, invest in equipment and relearn what real manufacturing takes. But now we own our output.”
The hydrogen wellness company recently launched the Echo Hydrogen Prebiotic—a single-serve, sugar-free, fast-dissolving wellness powder that combines hydrogen and prebiotics for energy, mental clarity, tissue recovery and gut health. The powder is available in a crisp apple flavor.
