Next Steps

 

 

Corporate action on sanitation remains nascent. Though many companies are taking action, few are aware of the topic, and even fewer know why and how they should take action. In order to encourage business to do more to address the global sanitation crisis, we need to gain a shared understanding on answers to key questions such as:

  • What does it mean in practice for companies to respect the human right to sanitation?
  • What principles and values can companies abide by to ensure appropriate and responsible action on sanitation?
  • What is the most effective strategy for catalyzing corporation action on sanitation?
  • What are the most effective roles for businesses with respect to improving access to sanitation?
  • How can companies meaningfully communicate sanitation information to their stakeholders?
  • How might corporate policy capture manifest itself with respect to sanitation?

Uncertainty on some of these questions does not mean that companies cannot act now; there is already a strong business case for taking action: the lack of sanitation creates business risk and undermines business viability. Companies should begin by ensuring all their employees and the employees along their supply chain around the world have access to improved sanitation. They can also engage with governments and others to see how they can best support sanitation efforts in the communities and countries in which they operate, both through social investment in sanitation services and advocacy-oriented collective action.

Such action on sanitation provides a variety of business benefits. These include:

  • Protecting and maintaining high-quality water resources
  • Supporting the health, talent, productivity, and morale of employees
  • Contributing to a healthy economy at the local and global level
  • Supporting the company’s social license to operate
  • Improving the company’s reputation among consumers and other key stakeholders
  • Upholding business values and principles

Moreover, such action from corporates is absolutely essential in realizing the human right to sanitation and achieving the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, in which sanitation is expected to play a core role. In short, sanitation is now recognized as one of the defining sustainable development challenges of the 21st century. Businesses can and must join communities, governments, civil society, and others in driving awareness of and ultimately much-needed progress on this vital issue.

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