Inspired by the impact of the LifeStraw Guinea Worm filter, a product that could filter out virtually all the microbiological contaminants that make water unsafe to drink, was the next goal. The result was LifeStraw technology, introduced in 2005 as a personal “straw-like” filter that removes bacteria and protozoa.

Building on the success of the LifeStraw water filters in the consumer market of the northern hemisphere, Vestergaard created a CSR project called “Follow the liters”. For every LifeStraw product sold, the company provides one child with safe water at school for a year in a developing country.

In February 2018, the fourth annual LifeStraw Follow the Liters program will deliver high volume LifeStraw Community water purifiers to schools in rural Kenya, to provide ongoing access to safe drinking water for their students. Each filter will last 3-5 years and serve 75-100 school children, who will also receive hygiene and sanitation education at the time of installation and during follow-up visits.

Since the beginning of the program in 2014, every year the number of students who received safe water was expanded and will reach the 1 millionth student this coming February.

A little more info

• The original LifeStraw filter got worldwide acclaim after being awarded an INDEX award. The Nordic INDEX Award is the world’s leading award for design to improve life.
• LifeStraw water filters saving lives.
• The UN Sustainable Development Goals.