GROHE Supports “Make a Splash!” Partnership Between LIXIL & UNICEF

Today, one in four people still live without access to a basic toilet; two in five do not have basic handwashing services at home

• The “Make a Splash!” partnership between LIXIL and UNICEF is tackling this global sanitation and hygiene crisis
• As part of LIXIL’s brand portfolio, GROHE will support the “Make a Splash!” partnership with a dedicated campaign across Europe and the Middle East to raise essential funds and awareness

Going to the toilet, washing our hands – these are daily routines that we easily take for granted. For most of us, sanitary facilities with clean water are a matter of course, but many across the globe are facing a different situation. Two billion people lack basic sanitation, 673 million practice open defecation regularly(1) and 40% of the world’s population do not have access to handwashing facilities and soap at home. As a result of unhygienic water and sanitation, 700 children under five die every day from diarrheal diseases. The lack of sanitation services also has a particular impact on women and girls who are exposed to the threat of violence and harassment, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the vast inequities in access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.

In 2018, UNICEF and LIXIL created a bold, new partnership called “Make A Splash!” – UNICEF’s first global shared-value cooperation in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). It combines UNICEF’s WASH sector leadership with LIXIL’s global expertise in toilet design and innovation to tackle the sanitation and hygiene crisis.

GROHE brings campaign to life in the UK

As part of LIXIL’s brand portfolio, GROHE is launching its “Energy for Life” campaign as  part of “Make a Splash!“, which will take place from May to August 2021 in 13 countries across EMENA(2) to raise awareness and support partnership activities. GROHE will donate 1€/£1 for every participating GROHE shower system or thermostat purchased to help provide a child with access to a toilet at home, or a school with bars of soap. In the UK, GROHE has also launched a consumer cashback promotion on all eligible shower systems to coincide with the “Energy for Life“ campaign, which will entitle those who make a purchase to £50 cashback. Furthermore, in the spirit of the campaign, GROHE UK is providing participating consumers with the option to pay forward some or all of their cashback reward as a donation to the “Make a Splash!“ partnership. Consumers can nominate a portion of their cashback reward to be allocated to the cause when filing their claim at www.groherewards.co.uk.

GROHE UK is also launching several other initiatives to support the “Make A Splash!” partnership including a creative colouring activity that is fun for all the family to get involved in. For eager participants, two drawing template designs are available to download from the GROHE website to print and colour in. Entrants must then share their artistic masterpieces on social media using #makeasplash #groheuk. For every eligible entry, GROHE will donate £10 to UNICEF and LIXIL’s “Make a Splash!“ partnership (T&Cs apply). All participants are entered into a raffle, with the first prize winner receiving bathroom products worth over £3000 to create the bathroom of their dreams. Ten runner up prizes will also be awarded.

To raise awareness of the campaign and its fundraising activities, GROHE UK is investing in a promotional partnership with audio streaming platform, Spotify, in order to reach as many people as possible. For anyone wishing to offer further support to LIXIL and UNICEF’s “Make a Splash!“ partnership, a digital donation page is also available for ad-hoc donations.

Improving access to sanitation

“LIXIL makes better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. As a global organisation, sustainability is at the heart of what we do and we have the responsibility to leverage our expertise to make a positive impact on the world. But sadly, access to basic sanitation and hygiene still remains one of the greatest challenges today, and LIXIL is committed to make toilets and handwashing accessible for all through its diverse and inclusive brand portfolio. GROHE has always supported the ‘Make a Splash!’ partnership through multiple internal fundraising activities but today I take great pride in reaffirming our support with the ‘Energy for Life’ campaign, that invites end users to help drive change,” says Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA and Co-CEO Grohe AG.

“Growing up in a clean and safe environment is every child’s right. Basic toilets and hand washing facilities at home and school are critical to keep children healthy and prevent the spread of disease. We appreciate GROHE’s support to the LIXIL and UNICEF ‘Make a Splash!’ partnership which will help to ensure more children have access to clean, safe toilets and hand hygiene so they lead healthier lives”, says Carla Haddad Mardini, Director, Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division, UNICEF.

A bold mission: LIXIL and UNICEF are tackling the sanitation crisis

The “Make a Splash!” partnership contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal target 6.2 “to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.” Initially focusing on the three key countries Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania and on developing a sanitation economy, the partnership builds on LIXIL and UNICEF’s respective strengths to deliver on a shared ambition to tackle the global sanitation crisis.

As UNICEF changes people’s attitudes about open defecation and the use of poor, unsafe facilities, people are demanding better sanitation and hygiene services. LIXIL helps meet this demand through its SATO toilet products, which provide safe, affordable and sustainable solutions for communities to improve and sustain proper sanitation and hygiene.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, LIXIL devised the SATO Tap, an affordable and innovative handwashing station for low-income households that lack access to running water. The SATO Tap consists of a plastic base with a soap holder and a nozzle that can be fitted with widely available plastic bottles. It can be operated with a simple nudge, ensuring minimal contact and releasing just enough water to practice safe hygiene.

SATO toilets were first introduced in 2013. Featuring a counterweight trap door that helps prevent unpleasant odours and insects, a SATO toilet consumes 80% less water to flush than a conventional toilet. SATO aims to be a self-sustaining social business by establishing a local Make, Sell, Use cycle in the community – creating jobs and allowing local manufacturers and stakeholders to continue the business independently to help communities continuously improve sanitation.

Source : GROHE

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