On World Toilet Day, a survey by Tearfund* asked people in the UK about their loo habits, as part of a new Toilet Twinning campaign to flush away poverty.  The results may surprise you! 

Escape room: 62% have used the loo as an excuse to escape for some peace and quiet.  More than a third of parents say they use it to take a break from their kids, and 28% of people go to avoid work or colleagues. 

Loo with a view:  13% of 16-34-year-olds surveyed have taken a selfie on the toilet 

Phone on the throne: 43% of people say they’ve texted from the loo, 27% admitted they make or take calls, and 40% scroll on social media 

The poll also addressed more serious issues, such as whether people had ever struggled to find a toilet. This reflects the fact that 1.5 billion people—almost a fifth of the world’s population—don’t have access to their own toilets. 

• 70% have been unable to access a toilet in a public space, mainly due to it being locked or out of order. For people with a disability, that figure rose to 77%
• 61% have had to go to the loo outside or in an unusual location because they couldn’t find a toilet – with two thirds of those opting for the bushes

Graeme McMeekin, Tearfund’s head of audience engagement says: “Globally, the toilet crisis is urgent. People are getting sick and even dying simply because they live too far from clean water or a decent toilet. A thousand children die every single day from diseases related to unsafe water, sanitation or hygiene. That’s nothing to laugh about.” 

As Christmas approaches, Tearfund urges people to give a life-saving gift by twinning their toilet. It’ll be a present to remember and it only takes moments to order at www.toilettwinning.org – perfect for those last minute gift emergencies. 

So don’t let your loo be lonely this Christmas; find its perfect match and help a community transform its future. 

For more information about the work of Toilet Twinning and Tearfund, or to donate, please visit www.toilettwinning.org or www.tearfund.org

Leading UK bathroom industry figures who recently signed a landmark global commitment have outlined their motivations for taking bold action on two of the most urgent issues facing the sector today: water scarcity and anti-microbial resistance (AMR).

UK delegates met with counterparts from the USA and Europe behind closed doors at Windsor Castle to craft a unified industry declaration alongside a multi-million-pound investment and research initiative.

The summit’s goal was clear: to conserve billions of litres of water lost each day through faulty bathroom fittings and appliances, while simultaneously reducing the risk of bacterial infections in bathrooms.

On day two of the event, the world’s top 10 bathroom manufacturers pledged to invest in new research and collaborate on efforts to drive meaningful change. They committed to funding the development of more water-efficient toilets and showers, introducing clearer product labelling to help homeowners make water-saving choices, and lobbying governments globally for support in water conservation efforts.

The group also agreed to develop innovative products designed to reduce infection risks, focusing on improving hand hygiene, reducing toilet plumes, and limiting the growth of harmful biofilm. Initiatives include the further advancement of touchless technologies, enhanced flushing systems, and surfaces that inhibit microbial growth.

Lisa Whitfield, managing director of Ideal Standard UK and Ireland, highlighted the scale of the challenge, saying,“Addressing the issue of leaking toilets in the UK could save an estimated 400 million litres of drinking-quality water every day. This represents approximately 10% of the additional 4,800 million litres projected to be required daily by 2050 to meet future demand, along with lowering the possibilities of drought in drier areas, such as the southeast.

“That’s why we dedicated an invaluable few days attending the summit in Windsor Castle, with leaders from the global bathroom Industry.  It’s highly encouraging to see the industry experts collaborating on significant issues impacting us all, making plans and commitments for change.  

Tom Reynolds, from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, played a central role in organising the summit, emphasising the need for a collective response to the global water crisis.

“The summit emphasised the need for collective action within our industry to advocate, educate, and innovate so that we can contribute towards being part of the solution in tackling these crucial issues. I look forward to seeing the impact of our joint commitment.”

Dr Helene Roberts, managing director of Norcros UK & Ireland, also spoke about the value of cross-industry collaboration and said: “There was some real rich agreement across some of the major issues that we’re discussing. I learned a huge amount around antimicrobial resistance and how we as an industry can be part of the solution.”

The Windsor Summit was a valuable opportunity for delegates to showcase the ongoing work being done to address the critical challenges of water scarcity and AMR.

Lisa Whitfield elaborated on this ongoing work, saying, “Our London Design and Specification Centre was the venue for the latest meeting of the working group charged with coming up with solutions for these issues.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the BMA and fellow manufacturers to help increase water resilience in England in the face of climate change, a growing population and to protect our environment.”