Boots is supporting National Hygiene Week (3-9 October) alongside The Hygiene Bank to help raise awareness of hygiene poverty in the UK. Hygiene poverty is a growing crisis in the UK with many unable to afford the everyday hygiene and personal care items that most of us take for granted. Many are reporting to having to make the impossible decision to choose between heating their homes, paying the rent, putting food on the table or being clean.

As we continue to encourage our customer to donate via drop off points for The Hygiene Bank  in our stores , we’re highlighting the great work our partnership has done so far this year to help tackle hygiene poverty.

A million donations

As of this year, with huge help from our customers, Boots has now donated over a million products to The Hygiene Bank. The products are collected from Boots stores by Hygiene Bank volunteers before being distributed to their network of community hubs and projects that make sure they’re getting to the people who need them most.

These donations truly make a difference to people’s lives, particularly young people through our Back to School Campaign. Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, said: “The donations really make a difference to people’s sense of dignity"

More than 500 donation points in Boots stores

Boots now has more than 500 yellow donation points to The Hygiene Bank in Boots stores up and down the country, give an easy and accessible point where customers can drop off donations whenever they are out shopping. Customers can drop unused products of any brand into the banks and for every kilogram of products donated, Boots will also donate another full-sized product. Hygiene essentials that are most needed include soap, shower gel, toothpaste, deodorant and period products.

Back to School Campaign

Last month, Boots and The Hygiene Bank joined forces to launch the Back to School campaign focused on getting kids starting school feeling clean, confident and ready to learn. After a new survey revealed more children than ever before were expected to be going to school without access to basic hygiene essentials, Boots pledged to donate 50,000 products to the hygiene bank.

Lucy Reynolds, Director of ESG and Communications at Boots UK said: “Having access to basic daily hygiene essentials like soap, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste is something many can take for granted, and sadly, with the rising cost of living, hygiene poverty is a reality that many more people are now facing. It might sound like a small thing, but the simple act of being clean can make a huge difference to someone’s confidence. To everyone who has donated so far, I would like to offer a really huge thank you.”