At Country Willows Inn, we are always looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint while giving back to communities in need. That’s why we are proud to partner with Clean the World, a social enterprise dedicated to improving global hygiene and reducing waste. This partnership is a natural extension of our commitment to sustainability and responsible hospitality.
About Clean the World
Founded in 2009, Clean the World has a powerful mission: to reduce hygiene-related illnesses and deaths by recycling discarded soap from hotels and hospitality partners. Many people don’t realize that millions of bars of soap are thrown away by hotels every year, contributing to unnecessary waste in landfills. Clean the World repurposes these used soaps, sanitizes them, and redistributes them to children and families in need across the globe.
Poor hygiene is one of the leading causes of death in developing countries, particularly due to diseases like pneumonia and cholera. According to Clean the World, simple handwashing with soap can reduce the risk of these illnesses by up to 50%. By providing communities with access to clean soap, the organization helps prevent these life-threatening diseases, ultimately saving lives.
A Global Impact
Since its founding, Clean the World has distributed more than 70 million bars of recycled soap to over 127 countries. These soaps have been delivered to hospitals, refugee camps, schools, and homeless shelters, making a tangible difference in both developing regions and at-risk communities in North America and Europe.
The organization partners with over 8,000 hotels, resorts, and other hospitality businesses, including Country Willows Inn, to collect and recycle used soap. The process is meticulous—soap bars are ground down, sanitized, and reformed into brand-new bars, ensuring that they are safe for use. In addition to repurposing soap, Clean the World also recycles bottled toiletries like shampoo and conditioner, further reducing waste and environmental impact.
Country Willows Inn’s Commitment to Sustainability
As a boutique inn that values both hospitality and sustainability, Country Willows is thrilled to contribute to such a meaningful initiative.
"We’re proud to partner with Clean the World as part of our ongoing sustainability efforts to reduce and recycle," said Lisa Himes, Innkeeper and General Manager at Country Willows. "It’s a simple but impactful way to help both the environment and people in need."
By working with Clean the World, we are not only keeping used soap out of landfills but also helping to provide essential hygiene products to those who need them most.
How You Can Help
If you’d like to support Clean the World’s mission, there are several ways to get involved:
Stay at a participating hotel or inn, like Country Willows, that contributes to the program.
Donate directly to Clean the World to help fund soap distribution and hygiene education programs.
Volunteer at one of their recycling centers, where you can help process and package soap for distribution.
Small actions can create big change. Next time you stay with us, know that your visit is helping to make a difference in both environmental sustainability and global health. Together, we can contribute to a cleaner, healthier world.