LIXIL’s SATO Reaches 103 Million People, Accelerates Sanitation Revolution in Kenya and Beyond

LIXIL Corporation, maker of pioneering water and housing products, today announced that it has achieved its ambitious goal of improving sanitation and hygiene for 103 million people through its social business, SATO, with significant progress made in Kenya.

Safe sanitation and hygiene remain among the most urgent global challenges, particularly in rural parts of Africa. In Kenya, more than 23 million people in rural communities – or nearly 40% of the national population – have limited, unimproved sanitation, or practice open defecation¹. This creates huge health, social and ecological issues. Globally, more than 1,000 children under the age of five die each day from diseases spread by unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene, resulting in hundreds of billions of dollars in annual losses from reduced productivity and higher healthcare costs.

To address this issue, LIXIL has created and scaled SATO, its social business that designs water-saving and affordable sanitation and hygiene solutions, with Kenya one of its key markets. Its award-winning range of products includes the SATO Pan – an innovative solution that closes open pit latrines to create a more hygienic sanitation experience; and the SATO Tap – a portable handwashing solution that needs just 100ml of water for an effective handwash.

As a business, SATO works with a diverse range of partners — including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, governments, international organisations, NGOs, and private sector players — to create resilient and sustainable sanitation markets in rural communities. This focuses on addressing the barriers to sanitation and hygiene adoption – from awareness and local entrepreneurship to product availability and microfinancing – to move communities away from open defecation and basic sanitation towards safely managed sanitation.

In Kenya, SATO has made significant progress by establishing local manufacturing and distribution. In addition, with UNICEF Kenya and the Ministry of Health, it has introduced and scaled sanitation solutions in regions like Kitui and Siaya Counties, developing supply chains and offering communities affordable solutions to away from open defecation.

Globally, its market-focused model has been highly effective. To date, SATO has reached more than 103 million people through its sanitation and hygiene solutions. This has not only created a better day-to-day for the end users who have access to improved sanitation but has also contributed to the direct and indirect creation of new jobs within rural communities. Achieving this milestone, the primary target of the Global Sanitation and Hygiene pillar of LIXIL’s Impact Strategy since 2013, reinforces LIXIL’s commitment to further accelerating sanitation and hygiene access worldwide.

Kinya Seto, CEO of LIXIL, said: “Reaching 103 million people is not a finish line, but powerful proof that the private sector plays a critical role in addressing an urgent global issue. By establishing a social business, we are addressing the sanitation and hygiene challenges at scale, not only improving health, but empowering families with the security and peace of mind they deserve to build their livelihoods and prosper. Our journey is one of learning and partnership. We are grateful to the families and partners who have welcomed our solutions into their homes and communities. Seeing first-hand how simple, safe toilets can restore dignity and improve quality of life deepens our commitment. Our role is to serve as a catalyst, supporting the resilience and potential of every community we reach.”

Erin McCusker, Leader of SATO, said: “Reaching 100 million people is a significant milestone, representing the impact on individuals and communities, and it is also a vital transition point. The global goal of universal access to safe sanitation and hygiene by 2030 demands unprecedented acceleration. We see sanitation as a foundation for the achievement of many other development goals. LIXIL’s upcoming 2030 targets will reinforce our commitment to deliver private-sector innovation and market-driven models essential to making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere.”

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