How do we begin to tackle a problem as vast as poor sanitation? Over a quarter of the world’s population still don’t have access to safe, clean toilets, and every day, approximately 800 children under the age of five die due to diarrheal diseases caused by unhealthy conditions such as lack of sanitary toilets.

LIXIL is a leading global maker of toilets and bathroom products. We know that toilets change lives. We know we have the expertise to design toilets to help those that that need improved sanitation. And we also know that we want to help tackle this problem and make a difference.

To drive focus on our goals, we set ourselves the incredibly ambitious target of improving the lives of 100 million people by 2020. Many were skeptical and thought we must be crazy, perhaps rightly so. Three years on, as we prepare for World Toilet Day 2019 on November 19, we have not hit our goal despite all the progress. While disappointing, we acknowledge this failure with a sense of pride, knowing that we have made meaningful progress, and that we would not have reached as many people without being so bold and without taking radical steps. Perhaps most importantly, we gained insightful lessons about how to reach the consumers living in the “last mile”. Such communities are the ones who need our products the most.

Despite missing our original timeline, LIXIL is more determined and more committed than ever. We are maintaining our original target of 100 million people but extending our timeline to 2025. At the same time, we are reaffirming our commitment to establish SATO as a self-sustaining business.

While not reaching our target, our track record shows we have made an impact. Since 2012, approximately 3 million SATO toilets pans and stools have been shipped, providing access to basic sanitation for nearly 15 million people. As of September 2019, SATO toilet pans and stools have been installed in over 27 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Read more from Jin Montesano, Chief Public Affairs and People Officer of LIXIL here: https://www.lixil.com/en/stories/stories_16/.