New Tork Research Drives Push for Inclusive Hygiene in Public Restrooms

Tork Spokesperson: Amie Kromis, DE&I Director, Essity North America

Q. What are some ways certain standard items in public restrooms — faucets, soap/paper dispensers — can be made more inclusive for all users?

There are many challenges, visible and invisible, that can make a user’s ability to practice proper hygiene in public restrooms difficult. For maintenance distribution professionals, a good place to start is assessing the products currently available in your portfolio and conducting an audit to reveal where key problems for inclusive hygiene may exist. When counseling facility leaders on which dispensers to install in a facility, it is important to think about the full functionality of the environment, taking into consideration the features of the bath tissue, paper towels, soap and hand sanitizer systems that individuals will engage with. For example, are they ergonomic and easy to press, or sensor activated? Is the facility providing soap and sanitizer products that are gentle on skin and dermatologically tested? These types of considerations ensure that people with skin sensitivities or mobility concerns can access the products required to achieve proper hygiene in public restrooms.

Q. Are there specific ways hygiene can reduce a person’s anxiety when using a public restroom?

44% of people feel anxious when they have to use public restrooms,[1] and dirty and overcrowded restrooms are the top ranked issue for guests at high-traffic venues. Committing to regular and thorough cleaning processes can reduce stress and improve hygiene access for all guests, and particularly those who struggle with conditions like contamination OCD and people who have a phobia of viruses or bacteria. Data-driven cleaning solutions are a key way to ensure efficient and high-quality cleaning throughout your facility. Through the use of real-time data from connected sensors, maintenance staff are alerted wherever there are service needs in the facility so that high-traffic areas are consistently clean and hygiene product dispensers are stocked 99% of the time[2]. In addition, selecting high-capacity systems can help guarantee that guests are always able to access the hygiene products they need by ensuring fewer runouts of key products like paper towels and serving a higher volume of guests between refills.

Q. Proper hand washing is critical to good health. What are some major barriers today in public restrooms to this simple, yet very important, activity? What changes can help?

Washing one’s hands is an essential step to reduce the spread of germs and disease, yet one in three Americans face challenges to hand washing in public restrooms.[3] There are numerous barriers – both visible and invisible – to hand hygiene in out-of-home restrooms. For example, people with eczema (31.6 million people in the US alone)[4] and other skin conditions often experience skin sensitivity to specific ingredients or fragrances, so handwashing in public restrooms can be a challenging experience. For these guests, prioritizing soaps and sanitizers that are gentle to skin, have been dermatologically tested and are certified by reputable organizations such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), ensures those with a variety of skin sensitivities can wash their hands without concern. Another example of a group that faces barriers is people with reduced hand function due to age, injury, or certain medical conditions – these individuals may find it difficult to use buttons, handles or faucets, so choosing dispensers that are certified easy-to-use can help people with a wide range of mobility needs access the products they need to practice good hygiene.

Q. What steps/actions can be taken to prevent loud noises and/or lack of privacy and make hygiene in public restrooms more inviting for parents with small children?

One major barrier for parents with small children is loud noises. One in seven Americans cite loud noises as a source of difficulty either personally or when assisting a child using public restrooms.[5] In public restrooms, jet air dryers are often to blame, as they are noisy and can create a stressful, overstimulating environment for those with sound sensitivities. In addition, they spread up to 10 times more bacteria![6] Paper hand towels provide a quieter, less stimulating, and more pleasant and hygienic restroom experience. They can also be used for multiple purposes, like wiping surfaces or avoiding contact with faucets or door handles.

Q. How is access to hygiene in public restrooms a pervasive public health challenge?

Public health experts agree that hand washing is a crucial way to limit the spread of disease. Yet, the effects of unhygienic restrooms are widespread. For example, people may feel that they are limited due to a lack of privacy or available products, or because facilities are simply unclean. Regardless of the circumstances, the bottom line is, if people feel unsafe using a public restroom, they will go out of their way to avoid using one by limiting their visits of establishments and businesses outside of the home. We are calling out these barriers because of the drastic impacts they can have on your business and on our public health.

Q. How can better hygiene options available in public restrooms improve the reputation of a business/facility?

Research shows that more than 60% of people have a lesser opinion of businesses or venues whose restrooms are challenging to use. It’s true at work, too – 1 in 6 people said they have left a job because of a poor restroom, and restroom issues comprise 45% of office building complaints, more than any other aspect.[7] The important thing to remember is that ensuring hygiene-inclusive and clean restrooms reminds customers and employees that their wellbeing is a priority, which will positively impact business performance in the long run.

Q. Are there surprising results from this global research that will need added attention?

One theme that is consistent throughout this new research is that people will change their behavior because of inadequate hygiene in public restrooms – 73% of survey respondents say a poor restaurant restroom experience impacts their willingness to return, 38% don’t purchase food and drinks to avoid having to use a public restroom, and 17% have left a job because of poor restrooms. Businesses that don’t prioritize clean and hygiene-inclusive restrooms risk harming their reputation and revenue. It’s important to communicate these challenges between distributors and customers to ensure priorities align and as an industry, we are working together towards success.

[1] Tork Insight Survey 2024, conducted in US, UK, Germany, France and Mexico among 6000 end-users and 900 businesses.

[2] Measured across nearly 13,000 connected dispensers between June-December 2019, based on time per month that a dispenser is in an empty status against total time per month.

[3] Survey among nationally representative group, barriers faced personally or in assisting others, 2024.

[4] National Eczema Association, “Eczema Prevalence, Quality of Life and Economic Impact,” https://nationaleczema.org/research/eczema-facts/.

[5] Survey among nationally representative group, barriers faced personally or in assisting others, 2024.

[6] Best et al, J Hosp Infection, 2014.

[7] Ibid.