We are delighted and humbled to announce that Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards 2021 has recognized our efforts in providing affordable hygiene and sanitation systems to local communities around the world.

For the past five years, Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards have recognized companies and organizations addressing the world’s most intractable problems through innovative ideas. But with the advent of Covid-19, the 2021 edition made special recognition of companies and organizations that rose up to the enormous challenge of a world-changing period.

Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards 2021 recognized SATO’s efforts in providing affordable hygiene and sanitation systems to local communities around the world by highlighting our SATO Tap.

Categories

The SATO Tap was a finalist in two categories:
1. Pandemic Response: Programs, products, policies, or anything else designed to mitigate either the health effects of COVID-19 or the economic effects of lockdowns.
2. Developing World Technology: Products designed specifically for the developing world, both intended for the bottom of the pyramid and those intended to help create leapfrog innovation.

The Finalists

Many of the products nominated were specifically designed for the developing world for the underserved populations and those lacking access to basic amenities while some of the products were intended to help create leapfrog innovation.

The SATO Tap was recognized as a handwashing station that aimed to improve hand hygiene for millions of people in emerging markets. Its special design features a unique nozzle that releases just enough water to practice safe hygiene and is operated with a simple nudge ensuring minimal contact when it is shared in households or communities.

The Covid-19 situation has highlighted the vast inequities in access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for many households and institutions in developing economies.

We remain committed to our mission of improving hygiene and sanitation standards within the regions we work in.