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Charitable Endeavors By Janice Costa While the business of kitchen and bath design can be complex and multifaceted, it remains a universal truth that consumers prefer to patronize companies that care about more than just the bottom line. Dealers, designers and manufacturers that are active in giving back tend to build stronger bonds with their community, and set an example for others. For that reason, Kitchen & Bath Design News is pleased to introduce a new department, Charitable Endeavors, which spotlights companies' eforts to give back to the community. This month's Charitable Endeavors looks at a company that's providing global sanitation solutions. The SaTo, which uses mechanical and water seals that reduce the transmission of disease by closing of the pit latrines from the air, was feld tested in Bangladesh in early 2013 to positive results, and the sanitation solution initiative is now in full swing, the company reports. "Access to water and «This sanitary toilet pan, called SaTo, is encased toilet facilities is solvin concrete and replaces existing pit-latrine pans, able, but we can't do it with a simple mechanical seal that shuts after each use. A small amount of water is retained after alone," says WaterAid A mer ica CEO Dav id each use, creating an airtight seal that minimizes Winder. "That's why Waexposure of human waste to the open air. terAid seeks to accelerate n the U.S. and Canada, discussions progress through innovative corporate about toilets revolve around style partnerships in the fght against water and design, water conservation, poverty." Universal Design and overall aesthetAs part of the educational misics. Yet in many parts of the world, sion, American Standard recently sanitation itself is the only issue that presented the SaTo sanitary toilet pan matters. at the World Bank Headquarters in In countries where fresh water is Washington DC as part of a conference scarce and sewer infrastructure does on global sanitation issues. not exist, unsafe, open-pit latrines are « The American commonplace, and these can allow Standard 'Flush for disease to spread quickly, and often Good' campaign fatally. Indeed, globally, there are more donates one SaTo than 2,000 deaths each day as a result sanitary toilet pan of lack of access to safe toilet facilities. to Bangladesh for every Champion Recognizing this, the Piscataway, toilet sold in North NJ-based American Standard has partAmerica during nered with WaterAid in a "Flush for 2013. Good" campaign designed to prevent the spread of disease and improve the standard of living through better sanitation. The campaign centers around communities in Bangladesh, where "the partnership will play a crucial role in raising the standards of safe sanitation," according to Jay Gould, American Standard Brands president and CEO. He notes, "We will be donating hundreds of thousands of our SaTo sanitary toilet pans to residents « American Standard V.P. of and institutions in Bangladesh, one Research, Development and for every Champion toilet sold here Engineering Jim McHale showcases in North America." The company will the company's SaTo sanitary toilet pan with WaterAid America's Annie also be donating a SaTo sanitary toilet Bonner at the recent 'A Matter pan for every 100 likes or shares of its of Life: Investing in Sanitation' Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ conference, held at the World Bank AmericanStandardPlumbing. Headquarters in Washington, DC. I Circle No. 21 on Product Card 36 | Kitchen & Bath Design News September 2013