How to Change Lives for World Water Day

DISCOVER OUR CLEAN

WATER: CLEAR MISSION

WHY WATER MATTERS THIS WORLD WATER DAY

Water is life. It renews, quenches and ushers growth. But for 785 million people^* in the world, clean water is an essential basic need they go without. Here at Aveda, we recognize our responsibility to care not only for the Earth, but for those living in it. That’s why our founding mission goes beyond creating cruelty free, vegan products—we’re here to make a difference in the ways we give back to society. This year for World Water Day, our mantra is clean water: clear mission and we aim to bring clean water to as many people as possible. We’ll share how charity: water helps support this goal, the impact of water on our daily lives and what you can do to make a difference for those in need.

Doing the most good with charity: water

Since 2018, charity: water has been our trusted partner, helping us bring clean, safe drinking water to those in need. We’re creating a movement to transform lives for generations by encouraging our global community (that includes you!) to support this cause.

Helping to provide communities with clean, safe water has always been close to our heart. Since 1999, Aveda has directed over $60 million to protecting and providing clean water. charity: water helps us continue to support this cause by working with local experts and community members to find sustainable solutions for fresh water in developing countries. Funds raised by Aveda lovers, employees, Aveda Artists and more contribute to making these projects possible.

The impact of water

Our lives revolve around water, yet we hardly ever think about it. Ironically, those without water think about little else—they walk miles daily to retrieve it and ration every drop. Our water privilege explains why we just expect it to flow freely when we turn on a faucet, start a shower or flush a toilet. Read on to discover how everyday actions become tough decisions for people in communities without clean water.

LIFE, DROP BY DROP

For those without clean water, life never really begins. They get diseases from polluted water and don’t survive past middle age. Women in developing nations must walk 3.7 miles^** daily to local water sources to collect water for their families. There is no such thing as walking to the bathroom or kitchen and turning on a faucet for these communities. After spending hours walking for water, they must decide how best to use it. Families will often choose between washing their hands or brushing their teeth.

Water controls their lifestyle choices as well. Young children, especially girls, must choose water over school, as they often help their mothers in the daily trek. This sacrifice means 1 in 4 girls do not complete primary school.^*** And because women spend their days walking for water simply to survive, they have no time for work and must choose a life without economic opportunities.

The power of water is life changing. Access to clean water and sanitation can save around 16,000 lives every week,^† plus communities learn healthy hygiene practices. For young children, less time collecting means more time for school. Clean water and proper toilets at school also mean teenage girls don’t have to stay at home for a week out of every month. And lastly, when a community gets safe water access, women get their lives back. They can work, start businesses and take charge of their own future.

You can transform lives with clean water, one drop at a time.

Help us shape the future

Are you ready to create the world you want to live in? By bringing clean water to those in need, you can help transform lives and better the Earth. Feel your power by joining our clean water: clear mission initiative.

Here are all the ways you can help:

1) Make a direct donation to charity: water here and your contributions will help fund clean water projects for communities in need. By clicking “here” you’ll be leaving aveda.com and heading to charity: water’s site to donate.

2) Join us in April for the Aveda Earth Month RunWalk with MoveSpring. We’re challenging our community, employees, Aveda Artists and Aveda salons to run or walk 3.7 miles daily or weekly. Whether you walk around at home, jog with a friend or walk to your coffee shop, every step counts! Stay tuned on Instagram for details on how to sign up during April.

3) Tune in to our IGTV Water Diaries on Instagram, launching today! Arizona Muse, our Global Advocate for Sustainability, shares her Water Diary to underscore the need for universal clean water access.

4) Shop with us on Earth Day, April 22, 2021. We’ll donate 100% of the day’s sales^‡ to charity: water, so you can shop with purpose all day long.

Stay tuned for more ways to make a difference, launching later this week.

Together we can help communities thrive with health, education and income, all from clean water access.

^*United Nations Children’s Fund and World Health Organization, 2019 Joint Monitoring report.

^**United Nations Children’s Fund and World Health Organization, Right to Water, Fact Sheet No. 35.

^***UNICEF, Advancing WASH in Schools Monitoring, 2015.

^†WHO, Drinking-water.

^‡Aveda will donate 100% of the purchase price (after deduction of applicable taxes) of all products sold online at aveda.com in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and South Korea, and in free-standing stores in the U.S., on April 22, 2021 (Earth Day) to charity: water to help provide clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries, up to $600,000 total. The total donation will be paid in USD. charity: water is a U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity operating globally.