In an era when complex innovations make the world smaller and faster, it would be easy to overlook a simple innovation that makes the world better. So we were thrilled and honored when Popular Science bestowed a prestigious Best of What’s New Award on the PackH2O waterwear pack, calling it “an elegant solution to a problem faced by millions of people: How to transport drinking water.”
In fact, transporting water is a problem for more than 2 billion people who lack water in their homes. That’s why Greif asked Nottingham Spirk to design a water transportation product using the company's industrial-grade woven polypropylene. The backpack features an ergonomic, gender-neutral design, adjustable shoulder straps and a removable liner that can be sanitized in the sun.
The decreased weight significantly reduces the risk of neck and back injury. It also eliminates the reliance on repurposed containers, which might have held dangerous chemicals, and which may require reaching in with possibly dirty cups and hands. PackH2O includes a removable liner that can be sanitized with sunlight to ensure the water supply remains safe after continued usage. Take a look at an early concept below.
The result of Nottingham Spirk's work is a life-changing collapsible backpack which holds about 5 gallons of water – slightly more than a typical jerrycan, at one-seventh the weight and half the carbon footprint. With a spout for dispensing water and a puncture-resistant outer shell, PackH2O is a safe and effective way to store and dispense clean water.
PackH2O increases the speed and comfort of transport, while reducing the risk of neck and spine injuries. It also eliminates the reliance on repurposed containers, which might have held dangerous chemicals, and which may require reaching in with possibly dirty cups and hands. Between uses, PackH2O’s lining can be removed and dried in the sun, allowing UV rays to kill microbes that might otherwise linger.
