Arkay invention wins UNDP project award
An innovation of a traditional water filter from Arkay Plastics Industry has won a UNDP funded project under the Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund.
The invention, named Arkay Safi filter, will help address the challenge of access to safe drinking water prevalent in most communities in Malawi.
Arkay has been recognised because prior to the introduction of the product on the market, foreign filter brands were the only ones available to the Malawian consumer which were not only expensive but also in short supply.
“Many households were forced to drink untreated water and this made many people prone to water-borne diseases,” said Arkay Plastics Chief Executive Officer, Lalit Malhotra.
He added that the pricing model Arkay has adopted makes the product affordable to many Malawians.
“A 500 millilitre bottle of water is priced at around K150 which means the cost per litre of bottled water is K300. With Arkay Safi water filter you could get 7000 litres and the same would cost you K1500 per litre. This is almost 200 times cheaper than normal bottled water.“Apart from the immediate cost savings, it ensures good health and savings on medical bills,” he said.
Arkay Safi filters are available at all Arkay outlets and Chipiku stores countrywide.
