Tork launches coalition to make public restrooms more accessible

Tork, an Essity brand and the global leader in professional hygiene, has announced the launch of the Tork Coalition for Inclusive Hygiene, an initiative aimed at improving accessibility and hygiene in public restrooms. The goal is to understand the challenges users face and find solutions to create a more inclusive environment.

The coalition brings together experts from different fields to discuss the difficulties encountered in public restrooms. The founding members include Dr. Steven Soifer, co-founder of the American Restroom Association (ARA) and adjunct professor at Adelphi University; Dan Rocker, president of the International Paruresis Association (IPA), which supports individuals with social anxiety related to urination; and Lee Moreau, founder of the design consultancy Other Tomorrows and professor of Design at Northeastern University. 

With over 50 years of experience in restroom product development, Tork aims to use the coalition to raise awareness of the need for more accessible restrooms and provide resources for businesses and facilities to implement improvements. Recently, the company received the world’s first Design for All certification for its dispenser development process.

“The Tork Coalition for Inclusive Hygiene is the beginning of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing what is a pervasive public health risk impacting millions”, said Amy Bellcourt, VP of Communications for Essity. “Research shows that 44% of people feel anxious about using public restrooms when leaving their homes, and often plan their days, travel and lives around ensuring they have access to proper hygiene in public restrooms. This limits their experiences and can result in them not returning to a restaurant or avoiding purchasing food and drinks at an event due to fear of not finding a restroom that meets their needs”.

 

A recent Tork survey conducted with more than 6,000 individuals across five countries revealed that many people plan their routes to ensure access to public restrooms, while others avoid eating or drinking away from home to limit restroom use. The study also found that restroom accessibility concerns cause some people to skip social events and even leave jobs due to poor restroom conditions. These findings highlight the issue’s impact on businesses, customers, and employees.

“This isn’t just about convenience; it’s a challenge affecting our society, businesses, and the economy”, Bellcourt emphasized. “While the Americans with Disabilities Act has been pivotal in addressing some of these issues, our research shows there’s still so much more to be done. That’s why Tork is bringing together an expert group of individuals to advance an issue that often gets overlooked because many feel uncomfortable talking about it”.

The coalition was born out of a Tork-led roundtable discussion held in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2024, in partnership with the Global Handwashing Partnership. The event gathered experts from public and private organizations to discuss the barriers people face in public restrooms. The discussion underscored the need for greater awareness and education on the subject.

“The public restroom experience is fraught with difficulty for so many people because broader awareness of the inherent challenges people face in restrooms is so low, and only known by people who regularly experience them”, said Dr. Steven Soifer. “I’m honored to be part of the very coalition that is working to get people talking about public restrooms, and I’m excited to help educate people and provide them with the guidance they need to create more inclusive hygiene in their public restrooms”.

The Tork Insight Survey 2024, conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Mexico, included 6,000 consumers and 900 businesses.

For more information on Tork’s inclusive hygiene initiative, visit the brand’s website or follow its social media channels.