Sustainability 101 Case Example: P&G
Launched in 2004, the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water program is reducing illness and death caused by drinking contaminated water, particularly among children in the developing world. At the core of the program is P&G’s water purification packet – developed in collaboration with the U.S. Center for Disease Control. The packet contains a “powdered mixture that removes pathogenic microorganisms and suspended matter, making previously contaminated water clean.”
- Proven to eliminate disease-causing microorganisms.
- Removes more than 99.99999% of common waterborne bacteria (including those that cause cholera), 99.99% of common waterborne viruses (including those that cause hepatitis A), and 99.9% of protozoa.
- Proven to reduce diarrheal disease incidence in the developing world by up to 90%.
- Removes dirt and other pollutants.
- Can be used to make clean drinking water for the entire family, including infants, and is considered an effective technology by the World Health Organization.
Global emergency relief organizations, such as AmeriCares, CARE, IFRC, PSI, Save the Children and World Vision, have provided clean drinking water using the P&G packets since 2004.
[This case example originally appeared in GEMI’s Sustainability 101 Quick Guide.]
