• Reports from The Hygiene Bank estimate 3.1 million¹ people are currently affected by hygiene poverty in the UK
• This festive season Boots will donate 100,000 essential hygiene products to The Hygiene Bank to help those most in need
• Boots will also double its ‘you donate – we donate’ match commitment, estimated to result in an additional 20,000 products for the charity
• More donations points in stores and online vouchers make it even easier for customers to get involved.

Boots has announced more ways to help those in hygiene poverty, in partnership with The Hygiene Bank. With reports from The Hygiene Bank estimating that around 3.1 million² people are currently affected by hygiene poverty in the UK, there is no better time to help those that are most in need.

As Boots prepares for the festive season, it is proud to announce The Hygiene Bank as its Christmas charity partner. As part of this commitment, Boots will donate 100,000 essential hygiene products to the charity, which could provide around 20,000 people with a basic care package this Christmas. Additionally, it has doubled its 'You Donate - We Donate' pledge from October through to Christmas, meaning that the more customers donate, the more Boots will donate, but estimated to be at least a further 20,000 products for the charity.

Boots is also making it easier for customers to get involved. It has added more donation points to stores across the UK, particularly in high deprivation areas, meaning there are now over 700 available (full list of donation points listed here). Customers can also support The Hygiene Bank online at boots.com by purchasing e-vouchers in denominations of £3, £5 and £10, with 100% of the donation going directly to the charity.

Natalie Gourlay, Head of ESG at Boots, said: “We know that Christmas can be a particularly challenging time economically for many people across the UK. We hope to help more people to access hygiene essentials over the festive period by providing at least 120,000 products to The Hygiene Bank, including soap, shower gel, toothpaste, deodorant and period products."

“We encourage anyone who would like to support this important charity to donate any full, unopened and in-date items at any of our 600+ Hygiene Bank donation points in Boots stores across the country.”

Boots has partnered with The Hygiene Bank since 2020 and has already donated over 1.5 million products to those living in hygiene poverty, with the charity directly supporting more than 2,000 organisations and projects across the UK.

Lizzy Hall, Founder at The Hygiene Bank, said: “Christmas is certainly a special time of year, but for many people it can be a particularly challenging time with additional financial pressures. Our mission, in partnership with Boots, is to help more people feel confident enough to participate in the festive season with their loved ones. Supporting The Hygiene Bank is a simple way to help not just our organisation, but multiple grassroots initiatives across the UK tackling a wide range of issues from poverty to domestic abuse and disability. The support from Boots and its customers this Christmas will continue to help support our vital work across the country.”

The Hygiene Bank will also receive support through new innovation introduced into the Boots Christmas campaign for this year. Boots is introducing a new media partnership with “WeAre8”, a sustainable media platform that allows customers to earn rewards for watching videos that support social and environmental causes. Throughout December, it will feature creatives focused on driving awareness of The Hygiene Bank, with 4% of the total media spend on this platform donated to the charity, as well as 1% carbon offset donation.

 

 

¹ The Hygiene Bank: Hygiene Poverty 2022 Summary Report

² The Hygiene Bank: Hygiene Poverty 2022 Summary Report.