Mission
Pure Earth partners with governments, communities and industry leaders to identify and implement solutions that stop toxic exposures, protect health, and restore environments.
Our Vision
We envision a world where all, especially children, are able to live healthy lives and reach their full potential, free from exposure to toxic pollution.
Our Focus
Lead and mercury are two of the most prevalent pollutants in low- and middle-income countries, and pose a greater risk than all other Top Ten Chemicals of Concern identified by WHO. Because of widespread exposure, both toxicants have a significant impact on the trajectory of societies, causing disability, death, IQ loss, increased violence, restricted futures for poisoned children, and cardiovascular disease in adults.
With 9 million deaths a year attributed to pollution, and over 90% of those deaths occurring in low- and middle income countries, the scale seems overwhelming and solutions elusive. But they are not. High-income countries went through the same trajectory of industrialization, suffering severe air, water and soil pollution with rivers on fire and thousands of toxic chemical waste sites. But with effective regulation and enforcement, combined with public investment in pollution cleanup, management and control, a much greater level of environmental health was achieved in the second half of the 20th century. This same solution cycle can and must be replicated in countries suffering from life-threatening pollution today. The international funding community should prioritize this investment in development aid.
Our Core Values
Values and culture are reflections of the decisions and actions an organization takes. Our global team will strive to take decisions and actions that uphold the following:
- Right to respect, dignity, and health. We believe all people have the right to be treated with respect, and to live with dignity and the highest attainable standard of health.
- Collaboration and empowerment. We cannot achieve our mission alone and we do not have a monopoly on good ideas. Our success depends on collaboration and communication with international, national, and local stakeholders, and on our ability to strengthen and learn from these groups.
- Integrity and transparency. We aim to operate with the highest levels of honesty, ethical standards, and openness. We believe that transparency about successes, setbacks, strengths, limitations, and uncertainties improves our work and advance our mission.
- Maximum impact. We are committed to maximizing, measuring, and reporting on our impacts and cost-effectiveness to evaluate progress and continually learn and improve.
- Technical excellence. We aim to ensure that technical excellence and the best available science are central to all decisions and activities.
- Bias for action. We think big and value innovation, bold steps, and calculated risks.
Organizational Attributes
- Focus on beneficiaries: We start with our beneficiaries’ health and wellbeing and works backward to design programs.
- Solutions-oriented: We are a solutions-based organization with strong field implementation capacities. Generally, we are not an organization that engages in “name and shame” activities, lawsuits, or other efforts aimed at applying negative pressure on other actors.
- Impactful: We are leaders in evidence-based, cost-effective programs with measurable impacts.
- Nimble innovator: We are a flexible, independent organization that innovates and adapts quickly to respond to emerging needs and opportunities.
- Thought leader: We are a technical authority and resource hub that shares original data, tools, strategies, and lessons learned.
- Influencer: We are a global influencer that raises awareness of challenges and shapes priorities.
- Inclusive: We collaborate and support peers and a growing community of actors.
Our Global Team
Our world-class global team works to solve lead pollution around the globe. Pure Earth’s growing staff work from our headquarters in New York City and globally across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, with offices in Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines.
2024/25 Annual Report: Scaling Solutions, Increasing Impact
Pure Earth’s annual report provides a closer look at how we are creating a healthier, safer world for children and families. Learn how your support translates into real-world impact—saving lives, informing global policy, and cleaning up toxic pollution.
