PISCATAWAY, N.J., Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition
of the 13th annual World Toilet Day on November 19, American Standard has released a
Global Sanitation Report offering the latest information on the
lack of adequate sanitation resources afflicting nearly 40 percent
of the world population. The document also provides updates on the
Company's Flush for Good campaign, which aims to reach 20 million
people by 2020 with improved sanitation facilities that can reduce
disease to help save lives.
The goal of World Toilet Day is to raise awareness about this
critical global health issue and support the many organizations
working to create change. There are currently 2.5 billion people
globally without access to safe sanitation facilities. Every day,
2,000 people – mainly children – die from diseases caused by lack
of access to proper sanitation facilities.
The United Nations General Assembly formally recognized
November 19 as World Toilet Day in
2013, helping to bring increased awareness and resources to provide
all people worldwide with access to safe sanitation.
To aid the improvement of global sanitation conditions, American
Standard partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in
2012 to develop a low-cost hygienic toilet pan that reduces disease
transmission and odors in pit latrines that are common throughout
Asia and Africa. After accompanying non-government
organization (NGO) partner iDE to Bangladesh for a deep dive market study,
American Standard engineers created the SaTo hygienic toilet pan
(named for Safe Toilet).
This sanitary SaTo toilet pan uses simple mechanical and water
seals to close off pit latrines from the open air, preventing the
spread of pathogens back out of the pit via flying insects. The
SaTo pans were also designed to accommodate existing cultural and
sanitation practices in Bangladesh, which aided their acceptance
within the communities.
To further expand the SaTo pan's reach, in 2013 American
Standard launched its Flush for Good campaign that resulted in the
donation of 1.2 million SaTo toilet pans to developing countries.
To date, more than 400,000 of these SaTo pans have been distributed
for installation through partnerships with NGOs BRAC, WaterAid,
Save the Children, Water for People, Plumbers Without Borders and
Food for the Poor.
By working with a local manufacturer in Bangladesh, who has established market
channels throughout the country, more than 120,000 SaTos have also
been sold for between $1.50 and $1.85
each. This pricing makes the SaTo pan both aspirational and
attainable for a population that survives on less than $1.00 per day.
"We're reaching magnitudes of people via a sustainable business
proposition rather than through charity," said Jay Gould, president and CEO of American
Standard Brands. "If we can develop a product that people actually
want to use, the health benefits of improved sanitation practices
naturally will follow."
Design of a new sanitation solution is currently underway for
use in arid Sub-Saharan Africa, where key elements to the SaTo
pan's function, water and concrete, are not readily available. The
ultimate goal will be to replicate the product development model
that American Standard successfully used to design, produce, and
distribute the SaTo pan in Bangladesh.
Jim McHale, Ph.D., global
sanitation products business unit leader for American Standard,
will participate in the World Toilet Summit to be held in early
2015. Started by the World Toilet Organization, this global event
will bring together non-profit organizations, for-profit companies,
toilet associations and private sector stakeholders to collaborate,
share knowledge and resources, and better impact the sanitation
marketplace. McHale will share his Company's learnings regarding
the improved sanitation solutions that their team has researched,
developed and tested for use around the world.
To download the American Standard 2014 Global Sanitation Report,
click here.
For more information about the Flush for Good campaign, visit
www.flushforgood.com.
For more information about American Standard Brands,
www.americanstandard.com.
ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS
American Standard Brands make life healthier, safer and more
beautiful at home, at work, in the community and throughout the
world. Offering total project solutions for residential and
commercial customers around the world with respected brands such as
American Standard®, DXV™, Safety
Tubs®, Crane Plumbing®, Eljer®,
Fiat® and Decorative Panels International®.
American Standard Brands is owned by Lixil Corporation (TSE Code
5938), a global building products company. Learn more at
www.americanstandard.com, or follow us at twitter.com/AmStandard,
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanStandardPlumbing.
SaTo™ and Flush for Good™ are trademarks
of American Standard Brands.
For more information:
Nora DePalma
O'Reilly DePalma for American
Standard
(770) 772-4726
nora.depalma@oreilly-depalma.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141119/159658
SOURCE American Standard Brands
