Oxyvital International Ltd
- HKGCC Membership No. :
- HKO0202
Every Breath We Take
“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” Although French gourmet Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin may have penned his famous quote over 200 years ago, more people than ever are heeding his words. A healthier diet that tries to avoid processed, unhealthy foods, has become a way of life for many people. Society as a whole is far more health conscious than it was just a few decades ago. We join fitness clubs, drink a myriad of blended fruit juices, and contort our bodies in unnatural positions for the sake of staying healthy. One thing we often overlook – or feel we have no control over – is the air that we breathe.
“Good health starts with clean air,” says Lars Kirchoff, Managing Director of Oxyvital International.. “Like water and food, healthy air is regarded as a basic human right and people should have a vested interest about the actual air quality in their lives.”
Bringing clean air into offices and homes
Founded in 1997 in Hong Kong, Oxyvital produces medical-grade air purification and oxygen concentration systems for prevention and treatment support in clinical, residential, and commercial environments. The company is renowned for its patented ZeoSieve indoor air purification system, the first technology in the market capable of cleaning indoor air to the highest international standards as established by the World Health Organization. Yet the company’s mission is much simpler – to preserve human health.
“When I first came to Hong Kong in 2004, I realized something was wrong with the air,” said Kirchoff. “I could sense it immediately. But if you have lived here your entire life, you get used to the polluted environment and regard it as normal.”
Prior to entering the air purification industry, Kirchoff worked for a communications company in China aimed at marketing luxury cars. After a bout of bronchitis in 2011, Kirchoff purchased his first personal Oxyvital air purifier, and after witnessing first-hand the positive effects on his life, he walked away from marketing cars into the air purification business.
Today, Oxyvital is a leading niche-player in high-performance air purification firms in Hong Kong and Macao, and jointly with their research and manufacturing partners in Germany and Switzerland, strive to create a greener, healthier man-made environment for Hong Kong citizens.
Clean technology
Oxyvital’s patented ZeoSieve technology for air purification goes beyond filtration and mere particle control to effectively address the gaseous nature of indoor air pollution such as VOC’s, formaldehyde, carbon mono and dioxide, nitrous di-oxide, ozone, radon and other fumes and odors. When air passes through the Oxyvital system, it first goes through a multi-stage pre-filtration process that starts with a coarse pre-filter, continues to a fine pre-filter, and finishes with a medical-grade, H13 class HEPA filter. This process removes dust and larger particles before the air is processed by a medical-grade compressor and then routed into the patented Oxyvital ZeoSieve system that is based on advanced zeolite technology.
Working on a nano-molecular level, the ZeoSieve system is able to crack and extract a multitude of gases and other airborne contaminants that are up to 10,000 times smaller than what an ordinary HEPA filter can eliminate. The result is noticeably fresher and healthier air.
Importance of clean air
“Oftentimes, hospitality providers or retail operators use artificial scents to mask indoor air quality problems. These fragrances, however, can depreciate air quality, as they contain chemicals and substances harmful to humans,” Kirchoff explained, “Naturally clean air has no scent, it is just pure and fresh.” Well-known companies in Hong Kong, such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hong Kong Land, Li & Fung and the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway have all installed Oxyvital air purification systems to create a cleaner environment for staff and customers in some of their premises.
“Moreover, it’s noteworthy, that even small improvements in indoor air quality enhance productivity at work, and reduce absenteeism and sick leave,” said Kirchoff.
Indoor air pollution is ranked the fifth cause of ill health worldwide, and poor air quality has been scientifically correlated with an array of health issues. On the other side, cleaner air boosts productivity and improves overall health. As we spend the majority of our time indoors, indoor air quality control is paramount to healthy living.
“Our biggest challenge is not competition. By now, over 300 brands are active in the Chinese air purification market. We are trying to avoid the consumer mass market by foucussing on the professional segment,” said Kirchoff. Therefore, Oxyvital focuses on the quality and performance of their systems, as the company is confident its proprietary ZeoSieve purification system gives it an edge over its competition.
Huge potential in the Mainland and South East Asia
Having worked in Shanghai for 5 years, Kirchoff says he is familiar with the rules and dynamics of doing business in China mainland. He feels that many PRC consumers still look at Hong Kong as a ‘lead or reference market’ when it comes to product endorsement and acceptance by the international community. Therefore, Oxyvital continues to build and foster its presence in Hong Kong primarily. Given the high levels of pollution in big cities on the mainland, he is confident that PRC consumers will welcome Oxyvital ZeoSieve systems rather sooner than later.
Whether in Hong Kong, Beijing or Tokyo, the biggest challenge is that people are more concerned about pollution outdoors, but seldom worry about indoor air contamination, which can be even more hazardous at times. Raising awareness on indoor air quality is critical for the continuous well-being and health of residents and employees alike, but Kirchoff admitted it is a gradual process that takes time.
“Air is intrinsically intangible; some people have a very sensitive olfactory organ, others don’t. We perceive air differently,”he said. “This rather subjective ignorance is why mindfulness remains low amongst many people, and that is something that we are trying to change.”
Company: Oxyvital International Ltd
HKGCC Membership No.: HKO0202
Established: 1997
Website: http://www.oxyvital.com
Contact: (852) 28935928
