Ecover's WaterAid partnership supports a project in Ethiopia

Meklit Hadero
The partnership will focus
on the area of Hintalo Wajerat
in the Tigray region where
only 22% of the population
currently has access to safe water
[Photo: WaterAid / Marco Betti]

Ecover, the world’s leading manufacturer of ecological cleaning products, launched a three-year partnership with international charity WaterAid. This partnership supports a project in Ethiopia, providing sustainable and ongoing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

Ecover and WaterAid share the objective to provide effective, sustainable solutions for the hygienic needs of people around the world, and it is this common interest that has led to the formation of the partnership.

This is the first time WaterAid has worked with a business where both parties are actively working together to drive change. Ecover has always recognised that water is a precious commodity, and this is considered alongside total environmental impact at every stage, from product concept to final delivery to the store.

The partnership will focus on the area of Hintalo Wajerat in the Tigray region where only 22% of the population currently has access to safe water and just 6% have access to adequate sanitation. More shocking is the fact that 17 out of every 100 children will die before they reach their fifth birthday. On completion of the project 14,750 people across eleven villages in the region will have access to safe water and effective sanitation.

The partnership was launched at an event for media and friends and from the end of June will be promoted on 1.5 million Ecover products across 10 lines. Two members of staff from both Ecover UK and Ecover Belgium have also travelled to Ethiopia to see the issues first hand and WaterAid’s project work that is being funded by the partnership.

Source: wateraid.org