Essity supports World Handwashing Day

In allusion to the World Handwashing Day, celebrated on October 15, Essity, through its Tork brand, has once again joined the cause in order to promote universal hand hygiene, in partnership with the Global Handwashing Partnership. (GHP).

World Handwashing Day is an annual global day, held in over 80 countries, aimed at raising awareness and understanding of the importance of washing hands with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent the spread of a range of infectious diseases. The date is an initiative of Unicef ​​(United Nations Children’s Fund) and receives the support of governments, international institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, and private companies.

Partners since 2017, Essity and the Global Handwashing Partnership have championed the importance of hand hygiene and educated the public on how to perform it properly. The importance of this habit became even more evident around the world after the Covid-19 pandemic, including the use of hand sanitizer in situations where it was not possible to have access to a tap.

Despite this, there are still millions of people in various parts of the world who do not have access to adequate hand hygiene facilities. According to Unicef, two in five schools worldwide lack basic hygiene services with soap and water, affecting 818 million students, of whom 462 million attend schools with no facilities available. In the least developed countries, seven out of ten schools do not have a place for children to wash their hands.

One in three healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, wards, etc.) worldwide does not have hand hygiene facilities at points of care where the healthcare provider and treatment involve patient contact.

Aware of this reality, Tork supports affordable hand hygiene by supplying products such as paper towels, soaps and hand sanitizers, in addition to its exclusive dispensers, as well as carrying out social and educational actions on the subject.

To celebrate World Handwashing Day, three scientists at Essity have created a new hand hygiene whitepaper titled “Promoting hand hygiene with behavioral change”. In it, researchers present a strategic model for changing hand hygiene behavior through educational and cultural transformation.

RESEARCH

The 2022 Health and Hygiene Survey, conducted biannually by Essity, which surveyed more than 15,000 people in 15 countries, identified that only one in four respondents said they feel comfortable in public restrooms and three in ten in public transport. In addition, 78% said that accessibility to restrooms in public spaces is essential to ensure well-being.

Most also expressed higher expectations about hygiene standards in public restrooms after Covid-19. In addition, there are higher demands on cleanliness, accessibility, and smart solutions.

Improving hygiene standards in public places can also have other positive effects. According to the study, 38% of respondents said it would make the biggest difference in helping to stop the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria – responsible for nearly 5 million deaths every year.