By providing clean water to 2.5m people in South Asia and the Middle East, water treatment company engages new markets while improving lives

Turkish water treatment company Aquamatch combines social impact with business profit by targeting water-scarce communities as new markets across two continents.

Istanbul, Turkey, 27 November 2018 – Aquamatch, a Turkish water treatment company, joins Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to provide clean drinking water to water-scarce communities and hire low-income youth to create local jobs in the villages where their factories operate. By 2022, Aquamatch plans to supply five water-scarce communities in South Asia and the Middle East, impacting 2.5 million people, and to employ 20 additional low income individuals from Turkey, with a focus on youth.

Launched in 2008, BCtA aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by challenging companies to develop inclusive business models that engage people with less than US$10 per day in purchasing power (in 2015 dollars) as consumers, producers, suppliers and distributors. Over 200 companies, ranging from multinationals to social enterprises, and working in 68 countries, have responded to the BCtA by committing to improve the lives and livelihoods of millions in developing countries through access to markets, financial services, affordable healthcare, water and sanitation, education and other critical services.

Aquamatch’s BCtA commitment not only ensures the company is actively contributing to the SDGs, but it also provides an opportunity to increase their revenues by entering new target markets that are generally underserved. New target markets for Aquamatch have been determined based the following criteria: a lack of water infrastructure, vibrant private sector, need of water and the scale of water crisis.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is most water stressed region in the world; over 60 percent of the population live in areas of high or very high-water stress. The majority of economic output in the region is also produced in high water stress areas. Recognising the need for more reliable and quality water supply, Aquamatch has expanded its reach to this region, as well as South Asia, initiating wastewater and desalination water treatment projects to produce clean water. To better serve these communities, Aquamatch transformed its business model to be more in line with the SDGs, ensuring social and environmental factors are included in its in its impact and needs assessments, adopting a circular business model and integrating low income communities as workers and beneficiaries.

In areas where it operates, Aquamatch engineers provide aftersales technical support to educate the local stakeholders on how to use the systems, and works with local engineers to install its systems. The company takes a holistic approach, engaging low income communities along its value chain as customers, workers and beneficiaries.

In its Turkey factories, Aquamatch currently employs 53 low income individuals. Half of these are young men below the age of 29, and two-thirds come from nearby low income villages. According to a 2018 Workers Satisfaction Survey, Aquamatch was the first job for two-thirds of its factory workers. Recognising the life-changing impact that regular employment can bring, Aquamatch aims to hire a further 20 young people in its Turkey factories by 2022.

For Aquamatch, providing decent work conditions and clean water for the communities where it works go hand in hand with business profitability.

“The better water treatment services we provide, the more turnover we secure. Therefore, our priority is to make sure our systems, services and equipment are highest quality possible,” said Bülent Zeytinoglu, Aquamatch CEO. “Second is to build long-term relations with our customers. We aim to enlarge the systems provided as the water requirements of the industries change. Our business model allows us to create positive impact while securing profit.”

“Aquamatch’s water treatment services help industries and households cut their water spending as well as save water in their operations. It aims to deliver the most cost-efficient and eco-friendly systems to it clients, and in doing so, is making a notable contribution to the SDGs,” added Paula Pelaez, Head of Business Call to Action.

For further information:
BCtA: aimee.brown@undp.org

BCtA membership does not constitute a partnership with its funding and programme partners, UNDP or any UN agency.

About Business Call to Action (BCtA): Launched at the United Nations in 2008, BCtA aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by challenging companies to develop inclusive business models that offer the potential for both commercial success and development impact. BCtA is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UK Department for International Development (DFID), and hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). For more information, please visit www.businesscalltoaction.org.

About Aquamatch: Aquamatch is a Turkish company that designs and manufactures sustainable water treatment solution systems. Established in 1989, Aquamatch is the leading provider of water treatment and wastewater reuse projects in Turkey. Aquamatch is active in 34 countries and four continents. It has 16 offices in Europe and Asia. Besides Turkish cities, Aquamatch has offices in Dubai and Lahore. Aquamatch delivers water across Europe, Asia, and Africa.