- Approximately 2.3 billion people around the world lack access to safe and sanitary toilets.
- LIXIL Group (www.LIXIL.com) has pledged to improve access to sanitation for 100 million people by 2020.
- The World Toilet Organization, LIXIL Group, Saraya, and ANA’s BLUE WING Program issue joint declaration to mark World Toilet Day 2017.
LIXIL Group Corporation (“LIXIL Group”) (www.LIXIL.com), a global leader in the housing and building industry, today endorsed a joint declaration with the World Toilet Organization, Saraya Co., Ltd., and the ANA BLUE WING Program on sanitation and hygiene. The declaration outlines their joint commitment to support the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Ensure access to water and sanitation for all. The declaration was announced at an event in Tokyo to mark the World Toilet Day.
Approximately 2.3 billion people around the world lack access to safe and sanitary toilets, of which around 892 million people are forced to practice open defecation. Every day, 800 children under five years old die from diarrheal diseases due to unclean water or poor sanitary conditions. According to a survey conducted by LIXIL Group and Oxford Economics, the economic impact of poor sanitation amounted to $223 billion annually as of 2015.
As part of the declaration, LIXIL Group, the World Toilet Organization, Saraya, and the ANA BLUE WING Program believe that in order to realize SDG 6, affordable and sustainable innovations and solutions must be brought to market, and that Japan has an important role to play owing to its unique and advanced toilet culture. The World Toilet Organization, LIXIL Group, Saraya, and the ANA BLUE WING Program will utilize their accumulated knowledge and expertise to promote activities aimed at resolving sanitation issues around the world.
Speaking at the Tokyo event, World Toilet Organization founder and CEO, Jack Sim, said, “Toilets are culture. With good toilet culture, behavior change will come. Japan has successfully exported many aspects of its culture to the world, for example manga, Japanese food, kaizen; now is the time for Japan’s toilet culture. Today’s declaration is the first step. We call upon others in Japan to join this movement. This will bring many benefits to those in the world who lack proper sanitation, and also enhance Japan’s soft power.”
LIXIL Group Executive Officer and Senior Managing Director, Jin Montesano, said, “At LIXIL we believe that access to safe and hygienic sanitation is a basic human right, and that the knowledge and technologies exist to tackle this problem. We are committed to playing our part to bring innovative and sustainable solutions to market, such as the SATO range of affordable toilet products, and enhancing coordination with other Japanese stakeholders in line with today’s declaration.”
As a global leader in sanitary ware and water technology, LIXIL Group has pledged to improve access to sanitation for 100 million people by 2020. To achieve this, the company has established a dedicated business called Social Sanitation Initiatives that is developing and bringing to market innovative technologies aimed at the base of the pyramid. Among these is the SATO range of affordable toilet solutions, which are already trusted and used by more than six million people in over 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of LIXIL.
Media Contact
Lina Varytimidou
Varytimidou@Grome.com
About LIXIL
LIXIL Corporation (www.LIXIL.com) is a global leader in housing and building materials products and services. The foundation of LIXIL’s success is our constant investment in technological innovation to improve the way we live. Delivering core strengths in water, housing, building and kitchen technologies, our brand portfolio businesses LIXIL, GROHE, American Standard Brands and Permasteelisa are leaders in the industries and regions in which they operate. LIXIL produces some of the world’s most fundamental and innovative products and services, and our solutions are an integral part of some of the world’s most iconic and cutting-edge living and working spaces. Operating in more than 150 countries, and employing more than 80,000 people, we bring together function, quality and design to make people’s lives better, and more delightful – wherever they are.
About LIXIL Group
LIXIL Group Corporation (TSE Code: 5938) (www.LIXIL.com) is the listed holding company containing LIXIL Corporation, LIXIL VIVA CORPORATION and LIXIL Housing Research Institute, Ltd. The Group, which is led by President and CEO Kinya Seto, is involved in a broad spectrum of housing-related businesses, ranging from the manufacture and sales of building materials and housing equipment to the operation of home centers and a network of homebuilding franchises, and comprehensive real estate service. LIXIL Group Corporation posted ¥1.89 trillion in consolidated sales in FYE March 2016.
Source: Apo-Opa
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