Soap saves lives by reducing the spread of disease in communities lacking basic hygiene. In many countries, inadequate cleanliness contributes to infant mortality. Yet millions of unused hotel soaps are discarded daily in developed regions. An individual initiative transformed this waste into a lifeline for people in need by recycling and redistributing these soaps on a large scale.
These discarded bars are now a global resource. Clean the World, led by Shawn Seipler, collects and recycles soap to guard the health of children in 127 countries. What began as a symbolic gesture has grown into a widely recognized movement with meaningful, measurable impact.
Seipler, who worked in sales for a technology company, would travel across the United States and sleep in hotels four nights a week. During a stay in Minneapolis in 2008, a realization struck. He launched a project that soon distributed millions of recycled soap bars around the world, making a difference at scale.
Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Seipler questioned why complimentary hotel soaps, used once, were simply discarded at the front desk. When he learned they were headed to the trash, a simple yet powerful idea formed: reuse these soaps to help nearly 9,000 children who die each year from diseases preventable with proper hand hygiene, such as pneumonia, cholera, and diarrhea.
In interviews, Seipler highlights the mission of Clean the World to reduce child mortality caused by hygiene-related diseases. The impact aligns with broader health gains achieved by international WASH initiatives, and organizations continue to drive improvements in global health indicators.
Over 8,000 hotels collaborate
The early spark that powered the venture came from modest beginnings. The initial team worked in a small space, assembling and shipping the first batches of recycled soap from nearby hotels.
Thus Clean the World was born, now donating nearly 70 million bars of soap and operating in 127 countries. The program has prevented thousands of tons of hotel waste from entering landfills in North America alone and partners with more than 8,100 hotels, including major brands such as Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and Walt Disney Resorts. Together, these partnerships cover about 1.4 million rooms worldwide.
Humanitarian work in Haiti
The first soaps were sent to Florida-based charities and reached Haiti shortly before the 2010 earthquake, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. A moment in a church, where a mother carrying a child described the impact of preventable diseases, underscored the need for sustained hygiene support.
Since then, nearly three million bars have been sent to the same region, to churches, mothers, and clinics, ensuring soap and hygiene supplies reach those in need. The program has extended its reach across Central America, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, the U.S.-Mexico border, Somalia, and Syria, among others, with future plans to provide hygiene kits to Ukraine refugees and others in crisis.
Beyond soap, programs now include mobile showers and broader hygiene services. The initiative has touched the lives of millions of mothers who once faced harsh poverty, bringing dignity and relief through basic cleanliness.
The pandemic posed a serious challenge, forcing hotels to close and interrupting soap flow. Nonetheless, the organization adapted, continuing its mission through new partnerships and civic support. Since 2017, more than 32,000 mobile showers have been donated to help people experiencing homelessness, and additional services such as mental health counseling have been offered. Efforts also include projects to recycle large amounts of plastic within the hospitality sector and to address concerns about clean water access.