LIXIL’s SATO Toilets Named a Finalist in Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards

Tokyo, Japan – LIXIL Corporation (“LIXIL”), a global leader in housing and building materials, products and services, announced its SATO toilets have been selected as a finalist for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards in two categories: Health and the general World Changing Idea. Fast Company is a business media focused on innovation in leadership, design, technology and world-changing ideas. Its World Changing Ideas Awards recognize companies for their ingenuity and innovation in creating new concepts, products and projects that can potentially transform people’s lives and improve the world. 

“Receiving this prestigious recognition for our SATO products, and their role in improving health around the globe, is a sincere honor. We are deeply committed to improving sanitation and hygiene conditions globally by increasing access to these innovative products in developing countries,” said Jim McHale, Ph.D., vice president and general manager of LIXIL’s SATO business unit, and co-inventor of the SATO toilets. 

McHale added, “The original SATO toilet was the first step in developing a full-line brand of bathroom products created for people living without access to clean sanitation facilities. This acknowledgement from the World Changing Ideas Awards program is a rewarding affirmation of our efforts.”

SATO toilets are designed to provide a safe, affordable sanitation solution that does not require water and sewer infrastructure. Created to improve the user experience and safety of open-pit latrines in developing countries, SATO toilets utilize a counterweighted trap-door to minimize odors and the transmission of disease. The first hygienic SATO toilet was developed by American Standard, part of LIXIL, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012. More than one million units are currently in use in over 14 countries, starting with Bangladesh and now including the Philippines, India, Uganda, Kenya and Haiti. They are available in a number of variations that take into account local needs.

LIXIL has set a target of improving access to sanitation and hygiene for 100 million people by the year 2020. LIXIL’s SATO business unit is playing a key role in achieving this, and is now strengthening its manufacturing capabilities and coverage. To date, it has established manufacturing license agreements in Bangladesh and Uganda, is working with local companies to expand its production and distribution in countries such as India and Kenya, and has plans to further grow in countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Africa.

Launched this year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 12 winners and nearly 200 finalists from a pool of more than 1,200 entries in categories ranging from Food to Energy to Developing World Technology. A panel of eminent judges selected winners and finalists from entries hailing from across the globe, from Pakistan to Brazil to Kenya to the United States. 

The Toilet Board Coalition (www.toiletboard.org), a business platform with the common goal of accelerating sanitation for all, and of which LIXIL is a founding member, was also named as a finalist in the World Changing Idea category for its Toilet Accelerator Program.. 

The winners and finalists in the 2017 World Changing Ideas Awards program will be highlighted in the April 2017 issue of Fast Company magazine.

 

Contact
Public Affairs Division, LIXIL Corporation
John Short / Masako Takada:  
pr_global@lixil.com
Tel: +81-3-6268-8801

Contact in U.S.A.
Nora DePalma
O’Reilly DePalma 
For LIXIL Americas, American Standard, DXV 
(770) 772-4726 
nora.depalma@oreilly-depalma.com

About LIXIL
LIXIL Corporation is a global leader in housing and building materials products and services. The foundation of LIXIL’s success is our constant investment in technological innovation to improve the way we live. Delivering core strengths in water, housing, building and kitchen technologies, our brand portfolio businesses LIXIL, GROHE, American Standard Brands and Permasteelisa are leaders in the industries and regions in which they operate. LIXIL produces some of the world’s most fundamental and innovative products and services, and our solutions are an integral part of some of the world’s most iconic and cutting-edge living and working spaces. Operating in more than 150 countries, and employing more than 80,000 people, we bring together function, quality and design to make people’s lives better, and more delightful – wherever they are. 

About LIXIL Group 
LIXIL Group Corporation (TSE Code: 5938) is the listed holding company containing LIXIL Corporation, LIXIL VIVA CORPORATION and LIXIL Housing Research Institute, Ltd.. The Group, which is led by President and CEO Kinya Seto, is involved in a broad spectrum of housing-related businesses, ranging from the manufacture and sales of building materials and housing equipment to the operation of home centers and a network of homebuilding franchises, and comprehensive real estate service. LIXIL Group Corporation posted ¥1.89 trillion in consolidated sales in FYE March 2016.