BOSTON, March 22, 2023 – Orbia’s Building and Infrastructure business Wavin, a global water technology leader, is an accredited delegate to the United Nations (UN) 2023 Water Conference kicking off today.
Co-hosted by the governments of the Netherlands and Tajikistan, the conference’s purpose is to accelerate universal access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation, including the goals contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Against this backdrop, Orbia’s Wavin business is extending its water-related commitments as part of the UN Water Action Agenda, convening events to raise awareness of water innovations and to learn from the people who invent them. Wavin is also committed to bringing its technologies to North America to help solve the domestic need for water security.
“We’re honored to participate in the world’s largest water conference to collaborate with diverse voices from companies, governments and delegations that share a common goal: clean, safe and secure water,” said Courtney Fretz Obregon, Vice President and General Manager of Orbia Building and Infrastructure (Wavin) North America.
“Our vision is to build circular water systems and net-zero water communities that are future-proof. Our participation at the UN Water Conference takes us closer to a future where half of all buildings are thriving ecosystems that also reduce energy demand, and cities which are climate resilient,” continued Fretz Obregon.
Commitments as Part of the UN’s Water Action Agenda
As part of Orbia’s commitments to global sustainable development with solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, the company is supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) including SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation.
In line with this goal, the Wavin business is implementing the delivery of a minimum of 25 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects, providing water access to at least 50,000 people in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. These projects are part of Orbia’s community program in Latin America, which provides a pathway to create resilient communities by addressing water and sanitation issues. Wavin has several production facilities in Latin America, including regions where potable water facilities, sewer systems and other crucial infrastructure are lacking.
This 2023 commitment strives to match the impact of a 2022 initiative, through which Wavin engineers provided technical assistance to implement 402 clean water storage tanks with a total capacity of 221,210 liters, 54 hand-washing stations, 178 rainwater systems and 14 biodigesters donated by the business. Wavin has fostered long-standing relationships with partner organizations (NGOs) in many countries to plan and complete these projects.
Convening Events at the UN Water Conference
In addition to showcasing the business’ digital and connected water management systems in the conference’s Innovation Pavilion beginning on March 22, Orbia’s Wavin business will also host two opportunities to foster greater collaboration to accelerate the pace of innovation:
- March 22, 2023, at 5 pm | Women in Water, is a sanctioned UN-side event at the Chief NYC clubhouse in Tribeca co-hosted by Wavin, Chief and the FEMSA Foundation. The event will provide a platform for women to connect, share ideas and support each other while creating a network that lives on beyond the event.
March 23, 2023, at 8:30 AM ET | The Boiling Point Challenge: A Heated Discussion will be held at the Dutch WaterHouse (666 3rd Avenue, 21 Floor, New York). It will feature five emerging water entrepreneurs competing for the top prize of $50,000 from a panel of judges and a second $10,000 "audience choice" prize. Wavin is co-hosting with Imagine H2O, the global water innovation accelerator.
As part of the event, Wavin will host its first U.S. Wavin WaterTech Forum, a speaker series featuring Dutch "aquapreneur" Friso Klapwijk, who pioneered a system to transform unused urban flat roofs into a smart grid for rainwater capture and green space and RainKeep artist Allison Newsome, recognized in 2022’s Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards. Both will open the discussion on how nature-based solutions inspire circular water design.
- Exclusive Showing | Wavin is offering scheduled media tours of 450 Warren in Brooklyn, New York), which houses the first S. Polder roof installation. The PolderRoofⓇ System is a blue-green roof that captures and reuses rainwater to sustain rooftop vegetation that reduces building energy use by cooling roofs and providing shade, thermal mass and insulation.
Commitment to Serving Needs of North American Market
An Orbia Building and Infrastructure business, Wavin has a 60+ year history of innovation in plastic pipe systems and solutions and a footprint in 80+ countries. It entered the North American market in early 2023 to address customer needs for environmentally responsible water technologies. Its focus is on partnering with North American system designers and plumbing contractors to improve water technologies in buildings and make cities more climate resilient.
In addition to establishing its own sales and distribution footprint in North America, the Wavin business acquired Bow Plumbing Group in August 2022. Bow is a Montreal-based manufacturer of plastic pipes and fittings for the residential and commercial construction industry.