- ACI member sustainability challenge contributes to nonprofit bringing clean water into underserved communities
For the second year, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) led social media challenge, ‘Our Future is Clean,’ highlighted the sustainability efforts across the cleaning products industry. The challenge kicked off on September 17 in coordination with Climate Week and ran through October 31.
To participate, member companies and their staff posted on social media channels with the hashtag #OurFutureIsClean, sharing images or videos of the actions they’re taking to be more sustainable, from large initiatives to individual commitments. Many of these actions directly support the industry’s ambitious sustainability goals.
ACI had the goal of collectively reaching 250,000 impressions, a lofty increase from the goal of 100,000 last year. We are excited to share that we were able to reach over 1.5 million impressions, far more than expected.
A special congratulations to IFF for winning the #OurFutureIsClean social media challenge, with the most engagement.
As a result of reaching our goal, ACI is donating another $20,000 to DigDeep, a human rights nonprofit working to ensure universal access to reliable and safe water and wastewater services within the United States.
Access to clean water is a human right. Yet, today, over 2 million people in the United States live without running water or a flush toilet at home, while tens of millions more face water access issues stemming from contamination or unaffordability. DigDeep is the first nonprofit focused on closing this ‘water access gap’ here in the United States. Their community-led field projects have installed clean running water into hundreds of homes through their Navajo Water Project (on the Navajo Nation spanning Arizona, New Mexico and Utah), Appalachia Water Project (West Virginia) and Colonias Water Project (Texas). DigDeep is also a leader in research, advocacy and workforce development to close the water gap once and for all.
“ACI and our member companies are proud to highlight and support programs that help provide better living for individuals, families and communities,” said Nathan Sell, ACI Senior Director, Sustainability. “That’s why we are excited to partner with DigDeep.”
The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.
About DigDeep: DigDeep is a human rights nonprofit working to ensure every American has access to clean running water and sanitation. Its community-led and region-specific solutions have helped install clean running water inside hundreds of homes through its award-winning Navajo Water Project (Arizona, New Mexico and Utah); Appalachia Water Project (West Virginia); and Colonias Water Project (Texas). DigDeep is leading the U.S. WASH sector in research, workforce development and advocacy that informs public policy. It has authored two groundbreaking reports, “Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States: A National Action Plan” and “Draining: The Economic Impact of America’s Hidden Water Crisis,” which revealed over 2.2 million Americans live without a toilet or tap at home, costing the US economy a staggering $8.6 billion each year.
For more information, please visit digdeep.org and follow on Twitter (@DigDeepH2O), Facebook and Instagram (@DigDeepWater).