Global Handwashing Day

Global Handwashing Day is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases. Essity and Global Handwashing Partnership have advocated and educated for clean hands and proper hand hygiene for all for many years.

During the COVID-19 pandemic it became obvious to the world that proper hand hygiene can save lives for people everywhere. Unfortunately, there are still millions of people in many parts of the world that do not even have access to proper hand hygiene facilities. We aim to create awareness around this, and how important proper hand hygiene is throughout your day, no matter where you are or who you are.

On this page you find several insights, stories and links – and together with Tork, our leading professional hygiene brand – we have actively been doing a lot of work on setting the new hygiene standard and help our customers and users with proper training and solutions.

Explore the Tork Clean Care™ programme

The award winning Tork VR Clean Hands training is now available on all devices! Try it now on www.torkusa.com/cleanhands

The EU Infographic

EU Global Handwash Day Infographic

Promoting hand hygiene with behavioral change

How to successfully create a sustained behavior

In this whitepaper three scientists present a strategic model to change hand hygiene behavior. The model includes the components of system change, education, reminders and feedback to result in cultural change. This model can be relevant regardless of it being implemented in, for example, hospitals, food processing, kindergartens or at home.

Download the whitepaper

Podcast: Ctrl-Alt-Clean

How can interpreting data keep people hygienic? In a time of never before seen hygienic awareness, smart and data driven machines like Tork EasyCube® are working with us to ensure safer and more efficient handling of hygiene supplies and cleaning processes.

Listen to our podcast Ctrl-Alt-Clean on Spotify. With speakers from Dubai Airport, Cardiff University, Ingenuity House & Interserve Estate, and Tork & Essity.

Podcast: Power of Hands

68% of us have changed the way we wash our hands due to the spread of COVID-19. In this episode, we travel back to Vienna in 1847 to get acquainted with obstetrician Ignaz Semmelweis – known as the father of hand hygiene. We also discuss the future of the handshake and hand hygiene.

Listen to our podcast Power of Hands on Spotify. With speakers from William Paterson University, Doctors without Borders, Michelin Restaurants, Research Institutes, Health Experts and Essity.

Facts about handwashing impact according to Global Handwashing Partnership factsheet

Handwashing can reduce diarrheal diseases by 30% to 48%.
Handwashing can reduce acute respiratory infections by 20%.
Handwashing is also key in the fight against COVID-19. Handwashing with soap destroys the outer membrane of the virus and thereby inactivates it.
One study found that regular handwashing with soap can reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 infection by 36%.

Download the factsheet

Global Handwashing Partnership

We are an active partner to Global Handwashing Partnership who works to save children’s lives and improve health by promoting handwashing with soap. These days, we realize more than ever that washing hands can help you prevent from getting infections and even save lives.

This year’s theme is "Clean hands are within reach" and on this site you will find lots of insights, tips and links to more information about proper handwashing.

Educate yourself about handwashing

Listen to the scientist

How to wash hands properly

See what Carolyn Berland, our Senior Scientist has to say.

About the Hygiene and Health Survey

In the global websurvey, we gather insights from general public from ~15,000 respondents in 15 countries aged 16-85. The latest survey from 2023 covers three topics: The care economy, Prevention for preparedness in hygiene and health, and Investing in women+'s and girls' health and well-being. On the below link you’ll find the key highlights.

Hygiene and Health Report 2023

Hygiene and Health Survey 2022

Hygiene and Health Survey 2020-2021

Hygiene and Health Survey 2018-2019

Gambling with hygiene?

Ever wondered what the more hygienic and safer option is to hand drying? There is really only one alternative, check out our film. For more info on why and how, check out this Tork hand drying site.

Tork

Essity and its brand Tork are advocates for hand hygiene in the critical moments as determined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Good hand hygiene has a big influence on health and well-being of our loved ones for everyone. We aim to inform people about the critical moments of handwashing and proper handwashing methods with water and soap, preventing over-use of disinfectants, sanitizers and handwashing when this is not needed

Read more on Tork’s Clean Care Program

Select region

Quick results

Company

Brands

Sustainability

Innovation

Careers

Investors

Media

Global Handwashing Day

How to successfully create a sustained behavior

How to wash hands properly