Xylem Recognized As Winner Of Social Impact Category From Core77

Saajhi Stepping Pump honored with international design award for simplicity, effectiveness in rural agriculture

Xylem Inc., a leading global water technology company focused on addressing the world’s most challenging water issues, announced recently it has been named the Social Impact professional category winner of the Core77 awards, core77designawards.com/2014/recipients/saajhi-stepping-pump/. The recognition was given to the Saajhi Stepping Pump, a product developed as part of the company’s Essence of Life (EOL) initiative.

“This award is a testament to our revolutionary vision for the EOL business and the work our team is doing every day on the ground and in rural communities,” said Keith Teichmann, director of innovative networks and marketing, Xylem. “The Saajhi Stepping Pump is improving the way smallholder farmers tend to their crops and we’re humbled and honored to field a product capable of improving the livelihoods of those in these communities.”

Recognizing excellence in all areas of design enterprise, the Core77 Design Awards celebrate the richness of the design profession and its practitioners. In 2014, there were 17 categories of entry, providing designers, researchers and writers a unique opportunity to communicate the intent, rigor and passion behind their efforts. From client work and self-initiated projects to entrepreneurial and pro-bono engagements, the Core77 Design Awards embrace a wide diversity of enterprise: commercial, cultural, social, environmental and discursive.

Launched in 2013, the Saajhi pump was designed for rural agriculture as a solution for smallholder farmers to irrigate their land more efficiently. The pump uses human weight and motion to move water, resulting in three times or greater crop yield compared to rain-fed fields, and more than a 25 percent reduction in labor time compared to traditional furrow irrigation. Ultimately, the product aids farmers in cultivating crops for sale, which improves their economic standing within their communities and supports sustainable rural enterprise.

The Saajhi pump is part of the EOL business model, which works with the citizen sector and public and private partners to understand the needs of and develop solutions for rural farmers in developing nations.

To hear what judges had to say about the Saajhi, visit: core77designawards.com/2014/award_category/social-impact/.

To learn more about Xylem’s Essence of Life initiative, visit xyleminc.com/en-us/sustainability/essence-of-life/Pages/default.aspx.

About Xylem
Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and agricultural settings. The company does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands, and its people bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on finding local solutions to the world’s most challenging water and wastewater problems. Xylem is headquartered in Rye Brook, N.Y., with 2013 revenues of $3.8B and more than 12,500 employees worldwide. Xylem was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the last two years for advancing sustainable business practices and solutions worldwide.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all -- that which occurs in nature. For more information, visit www.xyleminc.com.