Hygiene poverty: a hidden impact of the cost-of-living crisis

“The impacts of hygiene poverty are wide ranging, with our research showing it takes a devastating toll on people’s mental and physical wellbeing,” Covington said.

“Hygiene poverty can cause feelings of low self-esteem, embarrassment and shame, and make it difficult for people to maintain their health. Our research also highlights the significant consequences on daily life, such as people avoiding social events or other critical commitments such as work and school.”

Good360 Australia sources unused and unsold consumer goods for distribution to those in need. It works with more than 600 partner businesses and retailers to ensure unsold items, returns, end-of-line excess and other goods and services don’t head to landfill, and directs them instead to more than 4800 charities and disadvantaged schools across the nation. The charity aims to redirect the estimated $4.5 billion in new goods annually that would otherwise go to waste, instead giving those products a “first life”.

Its goal is that “surplus finds purpose, not landfill”.

A large part of that work is battling hygiene poverty, and the charity says that as of July, it had helped two million Australians access 26.5 million personal hygiene and cleaning products, simultaneously preventing 3420 tons of goods from going to waste.

“While we are proud of our efforts to connect over 26 million personal hygiene and cleaning essentials that may have been destined for landfill to Australians in need, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Covington said.

“Hygiene poverty is a hidden but pervasive and personally devastating issue. It’s time for corporate Australia and governments to step forward and help eradicate hygiene poverty for good by funding initiatives that put these essentials into the homes that need them most.”