Xylem, partners volunteer time in solving water, sustainability challenges in 2022
Global water technology major Xylem has said that 87 per cent of its employees volunteered time in 2022 in efforts aimed at solving water and sustainability challenges across the world, including relief efforts in war-ravaged Ukraine.
The Xylem employees combined their efforts with volunteers from the company’s customers and partners around the world. The employee volunteers dedicated 157,000 hours during the year, an increase of 39 per cent from 2021.
More than 15,600 employees participated in Xylem’s corporate social responsibility program, Xylem Watermark, in 2022, supporting a range of initiatives such as educating the next generation about critical water challenges, expanding access to safe water and sanitation, and supporting communities in crisis, said an official statement.
“Xylem Watermark is fundamental to our mission to solve the world’s biggest water challenges,” said Xylem Vice President of Sustainability and Social Impact Austin Alexander.
“Our employees and partners showed remarkable commitment to solving short- and long-term water challenges in 2022, with 160 offices having 100 per cent employee participation. We are proud of our teams and partners, who have already begun 2023 by volunteering in response to community needs, everywhere, including support for relief efforts and provision of fresh water to earthquake-affected regions of Turkey.”
Employee’s volunteer efforts also contribute to Xylem’s 2025 Sustainability Goals, which include: providing access to clean water and sanitation for at least 20 million people; providing water and WASH (Water and Sanitation Hygiene) education for 15 million people; and giving one per cent of profits and one per cent of employee time to water-related causes and education.
“In 2022, our partnership with Xylem delivered clean water and sanitation to more than 2 million people affected by poverty or disaster,” said Interim Technical Unit Vice President at Americares Rose Hogan.
“Through the continued commitment of the Xylem team, we’ve provided water, sanitation, and hygiene education in India and Bangladesh, including infrastructure improvements and critical repairs in 27 health centers and six schools. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together in 2022.”
During 2022, Xylem Watermark projects included supporting relief efforts in Ukraine, where Xylem employees raised funds, hosted refugee families, collected supplies, donated equipment, and deployed emergency water treatment systems that serve 128,000 people.
During the year, Xylem’s Humanitarian Disaster Response Team provided emergency water treatment systems in Ukraine, South Africa, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The company’s employees raised water scarcity awareness and reduced water pollution through the global “Take Steps to Solve Water” campaign, featuring Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Partnering with NGO organizations including Americares, Engineers Without Borders, and Planet Water Foundation, Xylem Watermark supported the expansion of safe water and sanitation access to schools, hospitals, and communities, reaching 2.4 million people.
Xylem Ignite continued to inspire future water leaders, with more than 1,200 students participating in the second annual Global Student Innovation Challenge and the Re-New Our World Challenge in the Middle East, the statement added.
