LIXIL Takes Bold Steps in Sanitation Innovation Ahead of World Toilet Day 2024

As part of World Toilet Day 2024 celebration, LIXIL is proud to spotlight its significant contributions to improving sanitation and hygiene worldwide. With a commitment to making better homes a reality for everyone, LIXIL’s strategic focus on global sanitation and hygiene aligns with the company’s mission to drive impactful change in communities across the globe.

Tackling the Global Sanitation Crisis

Around 3.5 billion people still lack access to safely managed sanitation services, while 2 billion people live without basic hand-washing facilities at home. LIXIL has set an ambitious goal of improving sanitation for 100 million people by 2025. To date, LIXIL’s innovative sanitation solutions have positively impacted approximately 68 million people in 45 countries, laying the groundwork for widespread change.

Strategic Partnerships for Greater Impact

To amplify its efforts, LIXIL partners with key global organizations like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These partnerships are essential in accelerating progress toward LIXIL’s sanitation goals.

Make a Splash! Partnership with UNICEF

LIXIL’s collaboration with UNICEF through the “Make a Splash!” initiative has made a substantial impact in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania, providing 12.7 million people with access to safe sanitation and hygiene over the past five years. This partnership, which has been extended to 2027, continues to focus on scalable, market-based solutions to deliver sanitation where it is needed most. Key insights from this collaboration inform LIXIL’s approach to developing sustainable sanitation markets, targeting critical dimensions such as supply, demand, financing, and enabling environments.

USAID and LIXIL’s Partnership for Better Living

In 2022, USAID and LIXIL launched the “Partnership for Better Living” program to create self-sustaining sanitation markets. This public-private partnership focuses on expanding access to affordable sanitation and hygiene solutions. Thanks to the SATO brand, the program has already exceeded its goal of providing sanitation to 2 million people by 2026, impacting over 3 million people. The partnership has helped establish a reliable sanitation supply chain across Madagascar, Senegal, the Philippines, and more recently, Liberia and Guatemala.

Expanding Impact in Schools and Communities

LIXIL’s SATO brand has become a catalyst for improving sanitation in schools, healthcare facilities, refugee camps, and community toilets. The School Toilet Enhancement Program (STEP), launched in 2020, upgraded school toilets in Africa, benefiting 69,000 children across countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and more. Additionally, the launch of the SATO Shop offers unique merchandise designed by local artists, with proceeds supporting the STEP program.

Innovating Toilets for the Future

In line with the 2024 World Toilet Day theme, “Toilets – A Place for Peace,” LIXIL is investing in groundbreaking technologies. In March, the company became the first commercial partner for the Generation 2 Reinvented Toilet (G2RT) developed by Georgia Tech. This self-sustaining toilet system operates independently of traditional sanitation infrastructure, purifying liquid waste for reuse and converting solid waste into compostable material. LIXIL plans to refine and expand these innovative solutions, making them affordable and accessible for communities worldwide.