MELBOURNE, Australia, July 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Concept Amenities, a global leader in the supply of environmentally responsible guest bath amenities, has established an independent charity known as Soap Aid. Aimed at saving millions of lives worldwide, Soap Aid will address one of the most critical needs facing our planet today—the lack of soap in third world countries—resulting in millions of unnecessary deaths; more often children.
Concept Amenities plans to unveil this ambitious humanitarian effort, during a luncheon for Hospitality leaders, at the 12th Annual Australia, New Zealand, & Pacific Hotel Industry Conference (ANZPHIC) July 25th- 27th at the Hilton Sydney. Literature will also be available at the stand—number 11.
"Across the globe, 2.6 billion impoverished people lack adequate sanitation," explains Michael Matulick, chief executive officer of Concept Amenities. "It is estimated that 1.8 million children under the age of 5 die each year due to hygiene related illnesses such as acute respiratory infection and diarrheal disease. However, by the simple act of hand-washing with a bar of soap we could potentially reduce the number of these cases by over 40 per cent."
That, says Matulick, is where the hospitality industry can make a huge difference: "Every day, thousands of hotels around the world discard millions of pieces of soap, which often ends up in already overflowing landfills. By collecting waste soap and reprocessing it, our industry can help make a significant contribution to two critical objectives—protecting the environment and potentially saving countless human lives"
To ensure the success of its initiative, Concept Amenities is currently in discussions, with a number of charities and distribution companies, to assist in soap collection from hotel properties and proper distribution, of the repurposed soap, to the areas of greatest need.
It is important to note, however, that that unlike similar relief efforts, Concept Amenities plans to breakdown the used soap remove impurities and recast the soap into perfect news bars that will bear the Soap Aid logo.
In addition to rolling out the project in the company's native Australia and gradually expanding to other global regions, Concept Amenities is also striving to raise public awareness of sanitary conditions in impoverished nations and encouraging hospitality providers around the world to contribute to Soap Aid by recycling their guest amenities.
"Soap Aid is a unique opportunity for Concept Amenities to remain true to its core values of promoting eco-consciousness and improving the quality of life on our planet," says Matulick. "With the help of others in our industry, we can save millions of lives together."
To learn more about Soap Aid, please visit Concept Amenities stand, number 11, at ANZPHIC or log onto SoapAid.org or write to save@soapaid.com.
For more information contact Steve Duggan, Director of Marketing & Communications s.duggan@conceptamenities.com +613 9580 9977 or Darleen DeLisle, VP Marketing & Communications, (954) 629.5593; d.delisle@conceptamenities.com.
About Soap Aid
Soap Aid is a registered charity with an independent board, made up of senior industry and community members, which aims to collect used soaps from accommodation providers and repurposed, into new bars of soap, for donation to charities that can place the soap into the hands of those with the greatest need for sanitation. www.soapaid.org
About Concept Amenities
Concept Amenities is a recognized world leader in the supply of guest amenities that deliver on quality, luxury, style and environmental solutions. We've built our business through understanding our client's business, their guests and their brand.
Far from being simply purveyors of amenity products, we are intrinsically linked to the creation of memorable guest experiences. This mindset provides a clear focus for who we are and what we do best. While our goal is delivering the ultimate in sensory indulgences, we do this in a manner that is fully aligned with our values and the positive role we perceive, we should be playing, in the world in which we live.
In sync with the hospitality industry we are strongly conscious of the impact we have on the environment and the growing eco-consciousness of guests. Our environmental stewardship is a fundamental expression of our values. This is enhanced with ERP™—the leading benchmark for Environmentally Responsible Products—which is biodegradable, and recyclable, with a care for the environment.
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The following pictures are available for download:
| [Image] | SoapAid org |
| [Image] | ConceptAmenities SoapAid |