Personal Care Poverty Is on the Rise (2023)

Personal hygiene is something that most people don't think twice about. A daily shower or bath and brushing one's teeth, among other practices, all come as second nature, with most never questioning their daily routine. However, the cost of living crisis is continuing to cause consumers to tighten their belts, with inflation rates in the UK at a dramatic 10.1%, followed closely behind by 6% in the US. Many are being forced to discard their personal-care routines, rationing their money for essentials such as food and water. As a result, 48% of consumers plan to decrease their spending on beauty items specifically.

The UK government describes personal hygiene as a fundamental human right, defined as "the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family." Despite this, in 2020, UNICEF reported that 2.3 billion people worldwide lack basic hygiene services at home, and 648 million people worldwide live in poverty, which is sure to have only increased due to the rising cost of living over the past few years.

"Following the impact of our first hygiene poverty campaign in partnership with Tesco and In Kind Direct last year, it's great to have launched our second campaign already and to share our commitment to working together over the coming years to respond to the growing issue of hygiene poverty and to supporting those who are most vulnerable," says Chris Barron, Unilever General Manager of Personal Care. Tesco Head of Health Campaigns, Oonagh Turnball, added: "At Tesco, supporting the communities we serve is key to our purpose, and now, more than ever, it's important that we work closely with charities and our supply partners to help make a real difference for people who need it most."

Tesco is not the only supermarket that has advocated for better access to self-care products. German native Lidl has also contributed to the cause. Lidl's Good to Give campaign assigns specific labels to 10 essential sanitary and personal care items, including tampons, toothpaste, and diapers, which customers can purchase and donate directly to charities by dropping them in donation points located at the checkouts. The supermarket introduced the initiative in collaboration with the giving platform Neighbourly in 2022 to help diversify food bank donations across Britain. The supermarket reported a surge in demand for sanitary products during research for the initiative and, as a result, pledged £50,000 in grants to local organizations in the Neighbourly network.

"With the cost of living crisis continuing to put pressure on local communities, we want to go beyond our commitment to making good food accessible to everyone by looking at other support we can provide," says Senior CSR Manager at Lidl GB, Mark Newbold. “Hygiene poverty is the daily reality for over 3.2 million adults in this country, and our charity partners working day in and day out with those in need have told us that the problem is only growing. We hope that by providing grants and encouraging our customers to donate a little differently, we can get more local charities more of these basic yet vital products."

Across the pond, 500 million Americans lack access to hygiene facilities and essential menstrual products. Initiatives to help aid the problem have gone beyond brands and supermarkets, with several others getting involved. At American University in Washington, DC, over 330 securable period product dispensers were installed in both women's and all-gender bathrooms, giving access to students free of charge, following a series of discussions with students regarding what they feel they need most from their campus.

Independent members of the public have also taken matters into their own hands, creating programs and independent charities to aid their communities. In 2019, Columbus, OH, resident Kayla Davis founded a nonprofit organization, Step in the Right Direction, designed to help individuals experiencing poverty or homelessness gain access to essential items. Since its beginning, the nonprofit has collaborated with various partners, including Action for Children and the Period Pantry Project. In March, Davis began the Hygiene Free Store, offering personal care products free of charge to anyone who finds themselves in need, with no income threshold requirement. Those using the service can request up to five personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies at a time.

"I know that it can be really hard to ask for help, but I just want people to know that we are out here to try to break down some of the burdens, so people in the community do not have to decide whether to pay a bill or feed their family or buy hygiene products or cleaning items," says Davis. "We're here to say, 'Hey, we will take that off your plate so you can just go ahead and feed your family. You do not have to decide between this, that, or the other right now.'"

Beauty brands have also extended their arms to benefit those struggling. Gen Z–loved brand I Am Proud decided to give back to the community upon the release of its haircare range Hair Proud. The brand did so through its A Cut Above campaign in partnership with youth homelessness charity StandUp For Kids, offering free haircuts to children experiencing homelessness and poverty. The campaign took place after the brand discovered that 69% of 4.2 million American youths experiencing homelessness lack access to basic hygienic care and services.

Independent artist and poet Keke Babers supported the campaign, speaking on her gratitude for StandUp For Kids, who helped her when she experienced homelessness in LA as a child. "Experiencing housing insecurity can make it difficult to prioritize yourself and your wellness, but you have to find a sense of stability within yourself first. While mental health is an utmost priority, there is a sense of joy that comes from having access to services that make your external self feel vibrant, too," she states.

Kelly Fields, a StandUp For Kids board member, adds: "Young people work very hard to fit in and not look homeless. The longer they are on the street, the harder it becomes. Imagine when you finally want to make a change, not having anywhere to clean up. A fresh, clean haircut is an excellent start. This is why we are proud to partner with Hair Proud to raise awareness through this campaign."

It is clear that personal-care poverty is impacting countless individuals across the world, affecting both their physical health and mental health. While several demonstrated campaigns are sure to make their impact and raise awareness, it is the duty of businesses who have the ability to give back to get involved and offer aid in any way they can. By cooperating with local charities, or even beginning initiatives alone, brands are sure to not only help those in need, but also connect on a deeper level with the likes of Gen Z, who wish to see active charitable efforts from brands. As the popular saying goes, "a problem shared is a problem halved."