2023 Essay Contest Finalist

Entry by Mackenzie Campbell

More than 2 billion people live daily without clean water. To put this into perspective that’s about one-fourth of the Earth’s population. Not only do these people have no clean water sources, but the poverty they experience makes it difficult to afford a device to filter the water they drink. A company by the name of LifeStraw is making a difference in the world by providing clean water and filtration to over 7.6 million people in underprivileged communities.

LifeStraw is a company that produces water filtration products. Their most popular product is the “LifeStraw”. This is a small gluestick-sized straw with a filter embedded. This portable device is very cheap and compact. This allows for many to have clean water they never would have before. The product costs $20, and many have been donated to underprivileged communities with the help of their outreach efforts.

The company partners with nonprofit organizations and travels around the world to bring their products to communities without clean water. So far, LifeStraw has traveled to and impacted efforts in over 20 countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Sudan, and Ukraine. LifeStraw partners with nonprofits to bring clean water to those 20 countries and more.

LifeStraw focuses on environmental impact and creates their products out of sustainable, recyclable materials. The company is Climate Neutral Certified (CNC). This means they measure, reduce, and compensate for all of their annual greenhouse gas emissions. LifeStraw uses an advanced formulation that is made from fibers instead of granulated carbon. This reduces pollution in the water, atmosphere, and on earth.

LifeStraw has successfully created a company that has both a massive impact on the underprivileged communities of the world and a little impact on the environment. Something not many companies have ever done before.