Outside Media, a public relations and marketing agency specializing in the outdoor industry, has landed the account for LifeStraw, which produces water filtration systems for public health and outdoor use.
Outside Media will manage LifeStraw’s public relations strategy and execution to expand awareness of the brand, its innovative products, and its philanthropic mission.
“LifeStraw is a life-changing brand and we are excited to be working to increase awareness of it,” said Hilary Hutcheson, Outside Media principal. “We have been personally using LifeStraw products in the backcountry, and we believe in them. There are so many great stories to tell around the products, the people and the company’s social work.”
In 1996, Vestergaard, a global company focused on humanitarian products, developed LifeStraw Guinea Worm, a plastic pipe filter used to filter out Guinea worm larvae. Vestergaard expanded this technology to introduce, the personalLifeStraw water filter in 2005 which converted contaminated water into safe drinking water. It was initially used for developing communities and for natural disaster sites where water can be compromised. Later it was launched for retail sales where it grew in popularity among outdoorsmen while continually being a vital tool for millions of people who don’t have easy access to safe drinking water. LifeStraw grew its offerings from the original LifeStraw for personal use to other products that address specific needs such as the Lifestraw Go, an all-in-one solution in a water bottle form, to the latest release of theLifeStraw Mission, a high-volume, gravity-powered water purifier for when there is need for larger quantities of clean water at base camps and on group hikes or expeditions.
In 2014, the LifeStraw Follow the Liters program was introduced. Under this program, for every LifeStraw product purchased, one year’s supply of safe drinking water is provided to a schoolchild in a developing country. Since developing the LifeStraw Follow the Liters program in 2014, the distribution of high-volume LifeStraw Community water purifiers has provided more than 23 million liters of safe water to more than 125,000 school children throughout Kenya’s western province.
“We look forward to expanding awareness of our portfolio of LifeStraw products with the help of Outside Media,” said Alison Hill, managing director for the water business at Vestergaard. “Getting our name and products out there is important for the consumer segment but also because it enables us to help more people who don’t have ready access to safe water through our LifeStraw Follow the Liters program. We are confident in the strategic focus and specific expertise Outside Media will bring to help us achieve our goals.”
About Outside Media
Outside Media offers top-level marketing services to partners in the outdoor industry. With offices in Montana, Utah and Arizona, the company develops and executes strategic communications through public relations, social media, digital marketing, creative services, advertising and sports/community marketing. Outside Media team members’ true passion for the outdoors drives the authenticity and accuracy in their work.
About LifeStraw®
LifeStraw was first introduced by Vestergaard as a personal water filter for public health use in 2005. Since then the LifeStraw brand has expanded to include, additional water purifiers for use in households clinics and schools. In 2008, Vestergaard began selling LifeStraw directly to consumers, targeting outdoor enthusiasts. The newest product, LifeStraw Mission, incorporates LifeStraw ultrafiltration technology into a durable, portable water purifier ideal for campers.
About Vestergaard
Vestergaard is a Swiss-based global company dedicated to improving the health of disadvantaged people with game-changing solutions that fight malaria, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal disease and neglected tropical diseases. The company is the largest producer of long-lasting insecticidal bed nets that prevent malaria under the PermaNet brand, and its award-winning LifeStraw water filters have been designed for individual, family and community uses. Vestergaard’s ZeroFly products produce advanced reduced residue defense against insect pests for livestock and crop protection. Additional company initiatives focus on HIV testing and climate mitigation. www.vestergaard.com
