Who Gives a Crap is a company that makes and sells toilet paper using recycled paper or bamboo. The company donates 50% of its profits to partnerships that aim to provide fresh clean water and access to clean toilets and proper sanitation through partnerships with Fresh Life, WaterAid Australia and Water For People.

Who Gives a Crap toilet paper has two product identities: one made out of 100% recycled materials and another made from 100% bamboo. The recycled materials come from paper already in circulation, meaning fewer forests are being cut down for the production of this toilet paper. The use of bamboo also helps in the fight against deforestation. Bamboo is fast-growing and, according to the company, uses nearly 90% less land per sheet than traditional toilet paper. This means it can be harvested faster, and as an added bonus, it is biodegradable.

Charitable Work

Who Gives a Crap donates 50% of its profits to charitable organizations striving to provide developing countries with clean water and access to sanitary toilets. The company has raised more than £11 million for these organizations to date. These organizations focus on three major issues faced by communities with limited water and sanitation services:

• The Impact Improper Sanitation Has on Lives: Charities are fighting for proper sanitation systems. Without these systems, waste can end up in water used for drinking, cleaning and bathing, causing disease and infections that could be fatal.
• Environmental Impact: Methane gas is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. According to Who Gives a Crap, untreated waste accounts for 5% of human-caused methane emissions. Charities are fighting for the proper disposal of this waste, which can lead to cleaner air and cleaner water.
• Impact on Vulnerable People: Lack of clean water and clean toilets affects the most vulnerable groups such as women, children and those living with disabilities. By providing communities with access to both, the overall population will be positively impacted.

Who They Work With

Fresh Life works to build sustainable sanitation solutions in growing cities in Kenya such as Nairobi and Kisumu. These cities are densely populated and heavily built up in low-income areas. Fresh Life’s initiative is to provide these areas with safe and sustainable sanitation solutions.

WaterAid Australia, part of the global WaterAid federation, is tackling the sanitation crisis. It is an organization working to provide those in need with clean water, decent toilets and overall good hygiene practices.

Water For People also works to fight the sanitation and clean water crisis. It collaborates with local communities and governments toward lasting services for every household. The World Health Organization estimates that safe water, sanitation and hygiene could have prevented at least 1.4 million deaths worldwide in 2019. Water For People is fighting to ensure the health and well-being of those without access to these needs.

Who Gives a Crap is a business that promises 50% of its overall profits to charities working on the ground to provide everyone with access to clean water and sanitation. The business is not only set up through a strong belief that everyone should have access to these necessities but is also built on environmental morality. The product alone helps to reduce waste through recycling and uses bamboo to counter waste through its biodegradable properties and more sustainable harvesting.

– Shannon Waters

Shannon is based in United Kingdom and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons