Sweeping Away Taboos on World Toilet Day

Guess what day it is? World Toilet Day! It happens every year on November 19th. In this blog, we’ll dive deep into why World Toilet Day is so important. Today, we want to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis and emphasize the importance of clean and safe toilets. It’s time to spread the word, take action, and address the sanitation crisis. The lack of adequate sanitation affects billions of people worldwide, with huge consequences for health, hygiene, and the environment.

We have seven years until 2030 to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure that everyone has access to safe toilets and water. But right now, the world is lagging far behind. We need to work five times faster to improve the toilet situation. This World Toilet Day 2023, we want to focus on the sanitation crisis, its impact on communities, and last but not least, what we can do to help!

The sanitary crisis

According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, around 3.5 billion people – one-third of the world’s population – do not have access to safely managed toilets. In addition, 419 million people still have to defecate in the open. In these situations, diseases spread, with 1,000 children under the age of five dying every day. This global crisis is threatening the environment and the health of everyone, especially women, girls and other vulnerable groups. Why is the lack of clean and safe toilets such a big problem? Well, here are a few reasons that will make you think:

1. Impact on children’s health : Children are at serious risk when it comes to poor sanitation. Dirty water and toilets can give them nasty diarrheal diseases. And that’s not just a stomach ache – it can disrupt their nutrition, stunt their growth and unfortunately even be fatal. Furthermore, if they don’t have clean toilets, they may miss classes or not do as well in school because of the situation. So, it’s all about giving children a fair chance to grow up healthy and smart.

2. Health risks: When people don’t have access to proper toilets, they may defecate outside, which affects the water we all rely on. Contaminated water can cause serious diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid – not the kind of souvenirs you want to take home from a visit to the toilet. When adequate toilets aren’t available, women and girls are particularly at risk. Not having a private space isn’t just uncomfortable; it exposes them to humiliation, intimidation and unsafe situations.

3. Social inequality: Lack of access to clean toilets often exacerbates existing social inequalities. Those already facing hard times, such as those living in poverty, informal settlements or rural areas, often get the short end of the stick. They are the ones who have more difficulty accessing decent sanitation. This can contribute to a cycle of poverty and slow down efforts to achieve social and economic development.

How we contribute

If you’re familiar with our brand (or a loyal customer, hi fam!) you probably know that we offer so much more than just tree-friendly paper and great packaging. The money you spend on our eco-friendly wipes goes towards foundation projects. We don’t just build toilets; we actively involve local communities in our projects. By working with locals, we ensure that the toilets we build are culturally appropriate and sustainable in the long term. We’re all about empowering people to take charge!

How you can contribute

As consumers, our choices matter. When we choose to buy something new, we’re not just making a purchase – we’re making a statement for a better world. So, on World Toilet Day, let’s give a shoutout to the power in our wallets. Choose products that aren’t just about profit, but about making a real difference in global sanitation! Will you roll with us?