Amway, a health and wellbeing company led by entrepreneurs, has unveiled its new eSpring Water Purifier, designed to help Malaysians tackle the ingestion of harmful microplastics, pharmaceutical residues, and other contaminants from their drinking water. This initiative comes in response to alarming findings from a recent study published in the Environmental Science & Technology Journal, which revealed that Malaysia has the highest levels of microplastics among 109 countries surveyed.

Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5mm, can infiltrate the human body through food and water consumption. On average, Malaysians are estimated to consume about 502.3mg of microplastics daily, equivalent to ingesting one credit card's worth each week. The study highlighted that these plastic particulates can contaminate water systems and permeate freshwater and saltwater environments, ultimately entering the food chain. To mitigate the presence of plastic debris in water sources, experts advocate for advanced water treatment and effective solid waste management practices.

The launch of Amway's eSpring Water Purifier is timely, considering the growing health concerns regarding microplastic consumption. The purifier utilises advanced UV-C LED technology to reduce not only microplastics but also over 170 contaminants measuring as small as 0.2 microns, including 145 health-impact contaminants. Recent research conducted in Putrajaya detected concentrations of up to 3.8ng/L of nine pharmaceutical byproducts in drinking water samples, raising potential health risks for the population.

In addition to targeting harmful microplastics and pharmaceuticals, the eSpring Water Purifier has been certified by NSF for its ability to destroy bacteria by up to 99.9999%, viruses by up to 99.99%, and waterborne cysts by up to 99.9%. This ensures that consumers can enjoy clean and healthy drinking water without compromising on taste or beneficial minerals.

"Our health and wellness journey starts with clean water," stated Mike Duong, Managing Director of Amway Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore. He emphasised the importance of a healthy body as a key component in achieving optimal health and wellbeing. "Amway supports the physical wellbeing of consumers through innovations that harness the power of the microbiome, plant-based ingredients, and phytonutrients," he added.

Sustainability is also a core focus for Amway, with the eSpring Water Purifier's UV-C LED technology designed to last up to 10 years or 500 hours. This approach significantly reduces the need for annual UV lamp disposal and consumes 25% less energy during operation. The purifier can treat up to 5,000 litres of water annually, which is equivalent to the volume contained in 10,000 500ml single-use plastic bottles.

The new eSpring Water Purifier is the first and only brand to offer countertop carbon/UV water treatment systems certified to all four NSF/ANSI Standards: 42, 53, 55, and 401. To complement the launch, Amway has introduced the Amway Healthy Home App, allowing users to monitor all their Amway devices, access product information, receive real-time updates, track usage stats, and get filter change alerts.