INSIGHTS / News

Image courtesy of The Washing Machine Project, Whirlpool Foundation.

The Washing Machine Project is proud to announce that its flagship innovation, the Divya, has been named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 in the Social Impact category – one of just 300 innovations globally recognised for changing lives this year.

The Divya is the world’s first flat-packable manual washing machine, designed specifically for off-grid communities, refugee camps, orphanages, schools, hospitals and low-income households.

This recognition by TIME is a meaningful milestone for the team and the communities they serve, demonstrating that even the simplest ideas can have a profound impact when designed with people in mind.

Since 2018, The Washing Machine Project has deployed the Divya across 13 countries, including India, Mexico, Iraq, Uganda, and Gaza. Divya restores dignity, safety, and opportunity – especially for women and children, who bear the burden of handwashing clothes.

“I was inspired by a woman named Divya, whom I met while volunteering in South India,” said Navjot Sawhney, founder and CEO of The Washing Machine Project.

“She spent hours every day handwashing clothes, suffering chronic pain and losing valuable time. I promised to build her something better — and I kept that promise.”

About The Washing Machine Project

The Washing Machine Project is a UK-based social enterprise dedicated to designing and delivering low-cost washing solutions for communities in need. Its mission is to alleviate the burden of handwashing clothes — a task that disproportionately affects women and children.

The development of the Divya Washing Machine started in 2018, and since then, hundreds of machines have been distributed to households and communities, impacting 46,840 people as of August 2025.

The development of the Divya Washing Machine was supported by SETsquared Bath, helping bring this life-changing innovation to communities around the world.