n Industry Champions
Water technology company commits to solving the inequitable access to clean drinking water through its several social advocacy programs. By Francesco Lo Presti
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Plumbing & HVAC – May/June 2022
So far, the Industry Champions profile series has featured two individuals who have committed time, energy, and knowledge to improving the mechanical trades. For this iteration of the series, the decision was made to focus on a specific company that has completed a surplus of advocacy-based initiatives that give back to the community. In fact, Xylem Water Solutions and Water Technology was recently named a Net Zero Carbon champion at the 2022 Global Water Awards for its work in water decarbonization. “Xylem is a leading water technology company committed to solving water by creating innovative and smart technology solutions to meet the world’s water, wastewater, and energy needs,” explains Tim Main, national sales manager of wholesale products at Xylem. The company, alongside its partners, was recognized for deploying solutions that optimized energy consumption across water networks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Xylem has a portfolio of brands that are sold in more than 150 countries. Within the company’s umbrella is its Watermark corporate social responsibility program, which was founded in 2008. They work with nonprofit partners on sustainable development projects. “It is a twofold mission—provide and protect safe water resources for communities in need, and educate people about water issues,” explains Main. Through the program, they have worked towards bringing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education to schools and communities in emerging markets. In 2021, employees at the company logged more than 113,000 volunteer hours in activities
to provide and protect safe water resources and education. “The water sector is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful contribution to containing climate change,” explains Austin Alexander, VP of sustainability and social impact at Xylem. “We could become one of the fastest sectors to decarbonize.” In the past year, Xylem has formalized its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions before 2050.
Collaboration with Manchester City One of the latest initiatives that Xylem has embarked on is a partnership with Manchester City, a professional soccer club in England. In 2018, the club announced a global multi-year partnership with Xylem to become the club’s official water technology partner. They will also partner with Manchester City’s womens team, New York City FC, and Mumbai City Football Club, which are all a part of City Football Group (CFG). Through this partnership, Xylem will work with the club on Xylem Watermark projects, such as building water towers in communities around the world. “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Xylem,” said Damian Willoughby, senior VP of partnership at CFG, in a press release. “Manchester City and Xylem share a common commitment to operating in a sustainable and innovative way, whilst enhancing the lives of people in our communities around the world. We are excited to harness the global appeal of football to raise awareness of water challenges and support Xylem’s efforts to tackle these issues.” Recently, Xylem and CFG announced the renewal of its multi-year global partnership, which aims to accelerate action on critical water
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