American Standard SaTo Sanitary Toilet Pan Donation Improves Sanitation for Millions

In 2013, respected plumbing manufacturer American Standard donated 533,352 SaTo sanitary toilet pans to help reduce the transmission of disease and improve quality of life in Bangladesh. Many of these SaTos were distributed to the needy in 2013, with the remainder being distributed and installed this year. This donation is expected to impact the lives of an estimated 2.5 million people by providing safer sanitation facilities.

In addition, American Standard made a Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative in October 2013, pledging to improve sanitation and quality of life for three million people around the world from 2014 through 2017 through the use of SaTos. Including the 2.5 million residents of Bangladesh receiving safer sanitation assistance during 2013 and 2014, American Standard will reach an estimated 5.5 million people by 2017.

This commitment is an important piece of the Flush for Good campaign launched by American Standard in 2013, with an aim of increasing awareness of the global sanitation crisis and creating innovative solutions to help prevent the spread of disease caused by lack of safe sanitation facilities in developing countries. In early 2013, American Standard unveiled the SaTo (pronounced SAH-toh, derived from Safe Toilet) sanitary toilet pan, invented to work without sewer infrastructure. The SaTo uses ingeniously simple mechanical and water seals to close off pit latrines from the open air, thereby reducing the transmission of disease and odor.

Careful planning took place during the research and development process to ensure that the SaTo pan incorporated local bathroom practices while being affordable for the local population to purchase. American Standard created partnerships with local manufacturing companies so the product could be made in Bangladesh at a low cost, thus maintaining a sustainable business model. Distribution throughout the country has been aided through various NGOs that include BRAC, WaterAid and Save the Children.

Field tests of these toilet pans received extremely positive feedback by users, who found the SaTo toilet pans easy to use and effective at reducing disease transmission and odor as well.

Following this success, American Standard sent a team of product engineers to Zambia and Kenya in the fall of 2013 to learn about the specific sanitation needs in this part of the world and begin developing an appropriate solution. Scarcity of water in these regions of Africa presents a different challenge as compared to Bangladesh, and requires the development of a new latrine pan prototype.

Creating a sanitation solution as part of a sustainable business model is also part of the latrine pan development for Sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s goals is to once again deliver an improved sanitation experience that is affordable to the local population.

Worldwide, 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. Every day, 2,000 children die from diseases caused by this lack of proper sanitation. The United Nations has set a 2015 Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the proportion of people who lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

“American Standard has been dedicated to raising the standard of sanitation since the very beginning,” said Jay Gould, president and CEO of American Standard. “The Flush for Good campaign represents the newest chapter in this proud history. It is an honor and a privilege to have the ability to make such a difference in so many people’s lives.”

For more information on this announcement, visit www.americanstandard.com or www.flushforgood.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS

American Standard Brands make life healthier, safer and more beautiful at home, at work, in the community and throughout the world. Offering total project solutions for residential and commercial customers around the world with respected brands such as American Standard®, DXV™, Safety Tubs®, Crane Plumbing®, Eljer®, Fiat® and Decorative Panels International®. American Standard Brands is owned by Lixil Corporation (TSE Code 5938), a global building products company. Learn more at www.americanstandard.com, or follow us at twitter.com/AmStandard, https://www.facebook.com/AmericanStandardPlumbing.