Arivi paraffin stove highlighted as excellent example of innovative design

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA –15 June 2009.

The South African designed Arivi paraffin stove has been nominated as one of the finalists of the world’s biggest design competition. The Danish INDEX: Award is different from other leading design prizes by requiring that the design itself should improve human life. This year it attracted 720 entries from across the globe. A shortlist of 75 finalists, representing 18 countries, was selected, of which 5 are from South Africa.

During the press conference, INDEX’s CEO Ms. Kigge Hvid, highlighted the Arivi paraffin stove as one of six excellent examples of innovative design, along with entries such as a water-purification system for use in refugee camps, Nike’s basketball trainers made from its own production waste, a disposable birthing kit for midwives, the Cabbage Chair made from paper already used in Issey Miyake’s collections and a wooden radio from Indonesia.

Many thousands of South Africans living in informal dwellings are hurt or killed each year in raging shack fires caused by the use of unsafe paraffin appliances. The Arivi stove is designed not to ignite or explode when knocked over. The flame self-extinguishes immediately when the stove is tilted, moved or refilled while burning. It reduces the amount of time and money spent cooking because it is very efficient, thereby cooking faster and using less fuel than other wick stoves. It could save an average household around 32% of the money they usually spend on paraffin. It will also reduce indoor air pollution that could cause respiratory ailments in mothers and children in the home, as it produces less than half the amount of carbon monoxide required by law and creates almost no particles or smoke.

“We are very excited to be a finalist for INDEX ’09, it’s a great honour. Our next target is to get people to support us by pre-ordering a stove from our website at R500. This will help us get stoves to where they’re really needed” says Anya Calantzis, director of Arivi.

Arivi stoves will be available in South Africa at the beginning of 2010. People interested in ordering a stove for themselves, others or any one of Arivi’s partner charities can place a pre-order online at www.myarivi.com.

The other 4 South African INDEX finalists are the Design Indaba 10X10 low cost housing project, Lodox Statscan VE1, the Freeplay Fetal Heart and Woolworths Making a Difference Through Design.

The INDEX: Award prize ceremony will take place on 28 August 2009 in Copenhagen.

For more information please contact Anya at 012643 0996 or via email at anya@myarivi.com