Clean the World

Each year, millions of children worldwide die from hygiene-related illnesses because the essential items for proper hand washing are unobtainable to them. It is estimated that every 10 seconds a child dies from these types of illnesses – all preventable by just a single bar of soap!

An Orlando-based nonprofit organization, The Clean the World® Foundation, aims to stop these needless deaths from occurring by recycling used soap and shampoo and distributing them around the world to those living in poverty. With Walt Disney World® Resort’s 24 resort hotels located in central Florida, they play a key role in helping Clean the World® reach their goal. But it doesn’t end there – resort hotels at Disneyland® Resort in California as well as Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i, also recycle hygiene products with Clean the World®.

“Disney’s commitment to environmental sustainability permeates throughout the entire company. They are literally turning trash into treasure through Clean the World®, and that benefits the global community by creating a cleaner world” said Shawn Seipler, executive director of Clean the World®.

From Jan. – Sep. of 2010, Disney cast members collected more than 25,000 pounds of partially-used soaps, shampoos, conditioners and lotions from the nearly 28,000 hotel rooms on Walt Disney World® Resort property! This collection not only allows the cast members and guests to clean the world, but it repurposes something that was headed to the landfill.

After the discarded amenities are sanitized, Clean the World® distributes the items to people in need as part of their ongoing efforts to improve health and personal hygiene in impoverished areas worldwide. Some of these products are even donated to shelters and various organizations throughout the United States.

So next time you use that bar of soap in your resort room, smile knowing that it will soon be saving lives!