Most people demonstrated the same hand-washing method with both products, which shows that the reduction in water use is directly related to the product rather than the hand-washing method used.
By adopting the most efficient foam soap hand-washing technique—dispense, lather, faucet on, and rinse—water savings can be increased even further.
In the study, implementing this revised method reduced water usage to 951ml (0.251 gallons) with the tap on for 13.5 seconds—45 percent less than the amount of water used with participants’ chosen hand-washing method and lotion soap. The researchers noted that about 20% of the participants were already using this recommended method. Additionally, nearly 70% said the recommended technique was as, or more, effective than their usual hand-washing method.
Again, this data can be extrapolated for a typical office of 100 people washing their hands three times a day, and companies could reason that changing both the product type and the hand-washing method could result in an annual reduction in water usage of as much as 56,000 liters (approximately 14,800 gallons).
Benefits Beyond Water Conservation
Additionally, switching to foam soap has additional benefits to the environment and a company’s bottom line.
Reduced Energy – As less water is required for rinsing, there are also savings in the energy needed to heat the water.
Improved Sustainability – Because chemicals are not needed to thicken the soap (the lather is created by adding air), foam soaps biodegrade more easily, protecting the environment.
Less Product Needed – As foam soap is eight times more spreadable than the lotion soap, 36 percent less product is used on average. Research shows, however, that the same efficacy is delivered from foam even with less product.
Reduced Packaging – Using a foam hand wash translates to approximately one-third more washes in the same amount of packaging—meaning that the cartridge has to be replaced less often, which ultimately saves time and money.
Changing hand hygiene products to a foam soap and educating employees on the preferred hand- washing method could result in significant water reduction—making it an environmentally and fiscally responsible choice.
Isabelle Faivre is vice president of marketing at Deb Group, the world’s leading away-from-home skin care company. She holds extensive away-from-home market experience and a Bachelor of Science in international marketing from McGill University and ESSCA, a French business school. At Deb Group, Faivre works with customers across a wide range of industries to provide innovative and market-leading skin care programs that improve employee health and safety and environmental impact while reducing costs. Deb’s most recent innovation is GrittyFOAM®, the first heavy-duty foam hand cleanser. For more information on effective strategies for improving workplace hygiene, please visit www.DebGroup.com.
