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Who Gives a Crap?

Presently, over 40 percent of the world’s population does not have access to a toilet. All over the world, open defecation is a way of life. This excretion runs into water, which is used for cooking, cleaning and washing.

Dirty water is a leading cause of diarrhea-related illnesses, which results in over 2,000 deaths per day across the globe for children under the age of 5. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that 6.3 percent of all deaths worldwide would be preventable if access to proper sanitation were available to the 2.6 billion people who currently lack it.

Who Gives a Crap is an Australian toilet paper company that claims to be “The World’s Most Impactful Toilet Paper.” This innovative company donates 50 percent of its profits to WaterAid, a nonprofit that aims to improve access to clean water in the developing world by building toilets and improving sanitation.

In July 2012, the co-founder of Who Gives a Crap, Simon Griffiths, conducted a literal sit-in, bare-bottomed on a toilet, until enough pre-orders were made to begin production. And 50 hours and $50,000 later, Who Gives a Crap was launched.

Using 100 percent recycled post-consumer waste fibers in their product saves trees, water and landfills, meaning consumers help keep our planet great while promoting a great cause.

The toilet paper industry in the United States is a 7.6 billion industry each year. Capturing just 1 percent of the market in the U.S. means that Who Gives a Crap would help to provide toilets to about 2 million people living in developing countries each year. Griffiths believes that to remain competitive, companies must incorporate “goodness” into their products — that is, the way consumers value products is more than just quality and price, but what the companies do to make a difference.

Who Gives a Crap is an inventive company using a product that everybody needs to help those in need, and in that way, Griffiths says, he is “sitting down for what I believe in.”

— Ellie Malfaro

Sources: Vimeo, Who Gives a Crap, Huffington Post
Photo: Oilers’ Addict

“Who Gives A Crap”: A New Company Helping Sanitation Globally

"Who Gives A Crap": A New Company Helping Sanitation Globally

 For 40 percent of the world, there is no need to stop and imagine what it is like without access to personal sanitary systems. There is a significant lack of running water and proper sewer systems, which leads to the spreading of diseases from fecal matter and other contamination. In an effort to combat this issue, Australian entrepreneur Simon Griffiths took the logical approach and went straight to the paper, literally.

Who Gives A Crap was started on a fundamentally different notion that charities and donations should not be an extra burden or request on consumers and the public. Instead, work with the purchases people already make and funnel those funds towards the cause.  “I realized we couldn’t simply ask people to give 15 times more, or have 15 times as many people on the street stopping people and asking them to support a cause,” Griffiths says. “We had to completely change the way that we funded social impact.”

Enter toilet paper, one of the most used necessities in the developed world. Through Who Gives A Crap, half the profits from the sale of its toilet papers go towards building toilets and improving sanitation systems around the world. In partnership with WaterAid, both organizations are also spending time in rural areas in developing countries helping people not only learn about the importance of hygiene and public facility maintenance. They are also helping communities use the available resources to build sustainable toilets.

The business model Griffiths has used for his company is similar to the one Ethos Water along with other companies use. It is a recognition that fundraising, donations, and charitable giving should not add to an individual’s finances but simply be a part of it. This way, not only will people be more willing to buy a brand whose proceeds go towards charity but organizations will not have to strain themselves trying to sell an unnecessary gift or perk to unenthusiastic donors.

– Deena Dulgerian

Source: Co.EXIST