Engineer’s flat-pack washing machine uses 50% less water, supports displaced communities

London: A flat-pack washing machine that uses 50% less water is helping women and families in conflict zones and underserved communities wear clean clothes while removing the back-breaking task of hand washing.

The Divya Washing Machine was created by aeronautical engineer Navjot Sawhney through The Washing Machine Project. The idea began in 2017 after Sawhney met Divya, a resident of a village in Tamil Nadu, who suffered from persistent backache and skin irritation caused by washing clothes by hand.

Last year, Sawhney returned to the village to present Divya with an updated version of the machine named after her. “It was a full-circle moment,” he said, recalling that meeting as the inflection point of his life.

The hand-cranked, portable machine is designed for displaced communities and areas with limited water and electricity. It automates washing and wringing, reduces water use by half, and helps prevent health issues linked to hand washing.

The Washing Machine Project is now reaching women across the globe, aiming to give families dignity, save time, and improve health in conflict zones and beyond.