•          Boots increases the number of its stores that host The Hygiene Bank donation points
•          Customers can now donate directly to The Hygiene Bank via boots.com
•          Boots calls for more donations of soap, deodorant and dental care products due to demand

Boots UK is expanding its partnership with The Hygiene Bank to make it easier for customers to donate as new figures from the charity reveal that almost one in three people (28 per cent) in Britain have been unable to afford personal care products at least once in their lives.[1]

The leading health and beauty retailer is increasing the number of its stores that host The Hygiene Bank donation points  to over 400 so that more of its customers can gift their unopened personal care products to The Hygiene Bank to collect and redistribute to local charities, schools and local authorities. Boots has also launched e-vouchers that customers can purchase from boots.com to donate directly to The Hygiene Bank.

Boots is also appealing to its customers and the public to urgently donate soap, deodorant and dental care products to The Hygiene Bank, as these are the personal care items most needed by those experiencing hygiene poverty and there is currently a shortage of these products being donated at its stores.

Lucy Reynolds, Director of Communications, CSR and Sustainability at Boots UK, said: “We are proud to expand our partnership with The Hygiene Bank as we mark National Hygiene Week. With more people experiencing hygiene poverty than previously thought, we want to play a bigger role in tackling this crisis and we invite our customers to help us in this mission. Feeling clean should not be a luxury or a privilege for anyone – everyone has a right to feel good.”

Lizzy Hall, Founder of The Hygiene Bank, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of Boots and its customers. Together, we can ensure that everyone can feel clean. I hope that National Hygiene Week helps raise awareness about the impact of hygiene poverty and compels everyone to act.”

Gemma Rance experienced hygiene poverty after a benefits mix up left her without income for five weeks. She turned to The Hygiene Bank for help. She said of her experience: “At first, I felt embarrassed because I couldn’t deal with the problem myself. But I’ve realised it’s ok to ask for help. Everybody can get into a situation like this, as the rise in food bank use during the pandemic has shown. You could suddenly lose your job and there might be nothing you can do to control it. The support from The Hygiene Bank is for everyone, no matter your background or who you are. This issue needs to be shouted about from the top of our lungs!”

During the month of July, Boots  is also partnering with Unilever to donate one Unilever product to The Hygiene Bank for every two purchased online or in store. To find out more about how Boots is supporting The Hygiene Bank, find  your nearest Boots donation point, or purchase an e-voucher for the charity, visit boots.com/thehygienebank.

[1]Research conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of The Hygiene Bank. The research was conducted with 2033 respondents in the UK (nationally representative sample) between 04.06.2021-07.06.2021.

A Boots team member helps to pack donations to The Hygiene Bank from customers