How Soap Saves Lives

Hygiene-related illnesses are a huge health issue in general, and we can see first-hand how important good hygiene and access to soap and water are for our overall health and safety. With better access to soap and hygiene education, millions of lives can be saved every year. Here, we’ll dive into how soap can help save lives, and how organizations like our partners over at Clean The World are making a difference.

 

Why Access To Hygiene Products Is So Important

While many of us take basic hygiene practices, like hand washing and showering with soap for granted, many simply can’t access hygiene basics like these. People who are homeless or in at-risk communities, third-world or war torn nations, and those dealing with the effects of natural disasters deal with a lack of access to basic hygiene practices on a daily basis. Without the ability to get basics like soap and clean water, hygiene-related illnesses can become deadly. In fact, studies show that hand washing with soap and water is the single most effective way to prevent hygiene-related illnesses.

The Facts About Hygiene-Related Illnesses

Hygiene-related illnesses affect a broad range of people but unfortunately young children are especially at risk, with hygiene-related illnesses among the top two causes of childhood mortality worldwide. Approximately 3,600 children under the age of five die every day due to respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases that are preventable. With simple things like better access to soap and hygiene education, millions and millions of lives are saved every year, and this mortality rate can be reduced by 50% of more! 

What Is Clean The World?
Clean The World is a charitable organization that provides at-risk people with access to recycled soap, hygiene products and information about how and when to use them. Whether it’s in countries that are struggling with sanitation and humanitarian conditions, on-site during natural disasters, or with homeless communities around the country, Clean The World provides critical aid to people who are both at-risk and in need.

What is Soap Recycling and How Can It Help?
With their soap recycling program, Clean the World repurposes and distributes donated soap to a wide range of communities in need. Since 2009, they have donated over 60 million bars of soap and 5 million hygiene kits to over 127 countries worldwide. They also do their part for the environment, and have recycled 3 million pounds of plastic and diverted 22 million pounds of waste from already packed landfills since 2009.

How Is Dr. Squatch Helping?
At Dr. Squatch, we’re serious about making efforts to do more for our community and for the world at large, so we decided to partner with Clean The World in an effort to do more. We knew that their cause aligned really well with what we do and how we could contribute most to serious global issues like hygiene-related illness and the environment. In 2020, we were very proud to donate 80,000 pounds of soap to their recycling program, and while it’s a small step, we’re excited to not only help Squatch Nation look, feel, and smell their best, but also to give back. 

As you support us, you’re supporting those in need, and the world as a whole. Now that’s something that truly looks, feels, and smells good!