Over the past several months, there has been more attention than ever placed on the role of handwashing in our everyday lives. The Public Health Agency of Canada cites that proper hand hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others.¹ Given the elevated handwashing taking place during this pandemic, we would like to highlight recent GOJO innovations that help reduce water usage while handwashing.

These innovations are also important considering the elevated likelihood of drought in parts of the world due to climate change² and the likelihood that by 2050, at least 1 in 4 people will live in a country affected by chronic or recurring fresh-water shortages.³

GOJO launched its PURELL® brand HEALTHY SOAP™* with CLEAN RELEASE™ Technology in late 2018, and followed up the following year with PURELL® Professional REDIFOAM™ Foam Soap, with our PURELL® CXR REDIFOAM™ Dispensing Fixture. Both soaps rinse faster and cleaner to conserve water, saving an estimated 6 gallons or 9 gallons of water per refill, respectively, compared to our regular foam soap.⁴

In most types of commercial and institutional buildings – from hospitals to restaurants and schools – upwards of 30 percent of water consumption happens in the restroom.⁵ Given rising water costs, the likelihood of drought in parts of the world, and the large portion of water consumption tied to restrooms, building and facility managers should take a closer look at the hand soap they are using throughout their buildings and facilities.

According to a 2014 study conducted by Strategic Research Partners and GOJO, 10 percent more water is used when liquid soap is used in day-to-day handwashing activities, compared to foam soap.⁶

The water-saving innovation from our latest formulations can allow for substantial water reduction. Our PURELL® brand HEALTHY SOAPTM* with CLEAN RELEASE™ Technology saves up to 37 gallons of water per refill when compared to a standard bulk liquid soap dispenser.⁷ We estimate that the average office building would save over 40,000 gallons of water per year, and the average 500-bed hospital would save over 92,000 gallons of water per year by switching to this new formulation.

GOJO offers a full line of foam soaps including third-party certified green options that meet customer standards both for performance and for a healthier world. Learn more in our GOJOCanada.ca product catalog and at GOJOCanada.ca/sustainability.

1. The Public Health Agency of Canada, Preventing Coronaviruses). Retrieved June 23, 2020. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html?topic=ex-col-faq#p
2. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPCC Special Report on Climate Change, Desertification, Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Food Security, and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Summary for Policymakers. 2019. https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/
3. World Vision, Global water crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help https://www.worldvision.org/clean-water-news-stories/global-water-crisis-facts#facts
4. GOJO Industries, Inc., PURELL Healthy Soap CRT Rinse and Sustainability Study, 19 July 2017.
5. EPA Watersense Program. “Types of Facilities.” Retrieved March 17, 2020. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/types-facilities
6. Topper, Gene, PhD, Marting, Thomas. Effects of Foam Hand Soap on Water Consumed During Typical Hand Washing. 2014. http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/43298/Effects_of_Foam_Hand_Soap_on_Water_Consumed_During_Typical_Hand_Washing.pdf
7. GOJO Industries, Inc., Other, 2018-07-I10662 Bulk Soap (BOBRICK) vs GOJO Healthy Soap with CRT Wall Mount Water Consumption Study, July 26, 2018.