Cañete among locations to be evaluated for implementation of winning technologies of the Softys Water Challenge

August 28, 2020

The communities near its modern plant in Cañete are among the locations that the multinational Softys will evaluate to implement one of the winning projects of the Softys Water Challenge, an initiative to provide drinking water, through innovative technologies, to populations that today have limited access or lack it in the countries where the company operates.

"Softys will evaluate the possibility of implementing some of the winning solutions in communities near its plants," said a spokesperson for the company that manufactures well-known brands such as Elite toilet paper, Babysec diapers, and Ladysoft sanitary napkins.

Five hundred startups from around the world (including one from the Peruvian company Yawa, which reached the group of 10 finalists) applied to the Softys Water Challenge. Three projects emerged as winners, representing Mexico, Chile, and Israel, respectively.

Flow of the sky

First place went to the Mexican company Isla Urbana, whose solution consists of a system for collecting and purifying rainwater on the roofs of houses.

The system purifies rainwater through biological, physical, and chemical disinfection processes.

The technology has been tested in Mexican communities with abundant rainfall. It is easy to install, has low maintenance costs, and a long lifespan.

From sea and land

The Chilean company Remote Waters won second place with a seawater or groundwater purifier that is easy to operate and transport, providing an effective solution, for example, to communities that currently obtain their water from wells or waterwheels, where the water often requires additional treatment.

The purifier has been successfully tested in coastal areas of Chile that experience water scarcity.

Water in the air

Meanwhile, third place went to Watergen, an Israeli startup whose solution consists of a device that produces drinking water from generators that take advantage of ambient humidity, transforming it into potable and purified water, capable of providing water at the household and/or community level.

The device obtains water from an internal heat exchange process that generates water quickly, safely, and efficiently.

The technology has been tested in areas of the world that experience droughts.

The best care

“It was months of intense work, where we were finally able to identify the three solutions that best pursue the purpose of the Softys Water Challenge, which is to bring clean drinking water to underserved communities, especially now when hygiene and health are so important. That is the purpose that inspires us at Softys; we deliver the best care that people need every day, and at every stage of their lives,” said Nicole Sansone, Personal Care and Sustainability Manager for Latin America at Softys.