What is the SapoCycle Project?
SapoCycle turns discarded hotel soaps into life-saving products. This non-profit organisation collects discarded soaps in European hotels, reprocesses them, and distributes the recycled soaps to improve the sanitary conditions of children and families in need. It’s a simple concept with a big heart… All while providing a stable work environment for people with disabilities who take charge of the soap recycling. The project is rooted in environmental care, social integration, and humanitarian action – a genuine mix that speaks to both the head and the heart.
Main Benefit
- Every year, 1.4 million people are dying from largely preventable diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea.
- Handwashing with soap has been shown to reduce diarrheal infections by 40 percent (Source: UNICEF).
- Recycling used hotel soaps reduces CO2 emissions by 90% compared to burning them as waste (Source: Study by FHNW Switzerland 2016).
- Used soaps, which would otherwise be discarded in landfill sites, are transformed into new hygienic soap bars and liquid toiletries.
Coordinating the Soap Collection
Once hotels join the programme, they are provided with clear instructions and marketing tools to guide the collection process. The hotels carefully gather the used soaps, which are then transported by partner Planzer to the dedicated recycling facility. This organized effort ensures that nothing is wasted, while simultaneously assisting in reducing environmental pollution. It might sound simple, but these small acts add up to create a lasting difference – almost like pieces of a puzzle coming together.
The Soap Recycling Process
At the recycling facility, a trusted partner comes into play – Wohnwerk in Basel, Switzerland. This institution employs adults with disabilities to grate, grind, and transform used hard soaps into fresh, hygienic soap bars. Additionally, liquid toiletries are repurposed in a similar fashion, all under strict bacteriological control. The process makes perfect sense: a blend of efficiency, care, and social inclusion transforming what would have been waste into essential care products. The transformation is almost magical… What once seemed like discarded remnants becomes a symbol of second chances.
The Distribution Network
Distribution takes center stage when it comes to the final step of the project. Distribution partners work diligently to deliver these repurposed toiletries to families in need across Switzerland, enhancing health and hygiene in developing countries and even refugee camps in Europe. Regular feedback from these partners confirms the impact of the distribution efforts, reinforcing the idea that proper handwashing with soap not only removes germs but also saves lives. The distribution phase connects the recycled products with those who need them most, ensuring the project’s mission is well realized.
Project Impact and SDGs
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Handwashing with soap is a simple yet effective protection against infections.
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – Improved hygiene conditions ensure healthier environments for families.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The project supports people with disabilities by providing stable employment.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Recycling used soaps helps reduce CO2 emissions significantly.
Background and Vision
SapoCycle was founded by Dorothée Schiesser-Peyrouzet, a dual Swiss-French citizen with a political sciences and management degree. Having lived in Cameroon with her husband, she became acutely aware of the issues linked to diseases caused by poor hygiene. Beginning in 2014 in Switzerland, the project has steadily blossomed, receiving recognition including a nomination for the Swiss Tourism Award in 2016 and the later establishment of Association SapoCycle France in Mulhouse in March 2018. The Fondation SapoCycle, a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Fondation des Fondateurs, relies on a strong partnership with the hospitality industry, institutions for people with disabilities, and various distribution organisations. The BUBBLES SAVING LIVES program encapsulates this commitment – an initiative that is part environmental guardian, part social innovator, and entirely dedicated to a humanitarian cause.
