HUL celebrates decade of Suvidha with 25th Centre launch in Mumbai
INDIA – Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), HSBC India, and JSW Foundation, has inaugurated the 25th Suvidha Centre in Borivali, Mumbai, marking the landmark 10th anniversary of this transformative community hygiene initiative that launched in 2016.
The centre was officially opened by Hon’ble Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who emphasized the project’s significance as a comprehensive community utility hub rather than merely public toilets, highlighting how it is more than just public toilets.
These centres have been designed as comprehensive community utility hubs, offering clean, modern sanitation facilities, bathing areas, access to drinking water, and dedicated laundry services to provide much-needed convenience for families living in densely populated settlements.
HUL reimagined traditional community toilets into comprehensive hygiene facilities where each Suvidha Centre delivers four essential services under one roof: clean toilets, purified drinking water, shower facilities, and laundry services.
The design prioritizes inclusivity, affordability, and accessibility with special consideration for women, children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities to ensure dignity and convenience for all users.
The initiative now serves over 600,000 people annually with more than 10 crore (100 million+) service uses documented since inception, achieving a remarkable 95% user satisfaction rate.
Priya Nair, CEO & MD, Hindustan Unilever Limited, said, “We have always believed that what is good for India is good for HUL. Suvidha, our social innovation model, brings that belief to life.”
“By using deep consumer and operational insights, we have created a financially sustainable model that addresses the challenges of urban sanitation at scale.”
Independent assessments reveal substantial benefits for households using Suvidha facilities, as families unlock over ₹33,500 (USD 354.50) annually through time saved and reduced medical costs, while health outcomes show dramatic improvement with users reporting a 50% reduction in diarrhoeal incidence and significantly lower rates of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
The Suvidha model demonstrates remarkable operational efficiency, achieving break-even status within nine months of launch, with service profits maintaining best-in-class hygiene standards to create a financially self-sustaining system.
Each centre features solar power generation and water recycling systems built for climate resilience, with all Suvidha Centres cumulatively saving over 30 crore litres (300 million litres) of water since inception.
BMC provides expertise and unwavering support in development and implementation. Meanwhile, HSBC India and JSW Foundation co-fund the centres; on-the-ground partners Pratha Samajik Sanstha and United Way Mumbai manage operations; and EY serves as the governance partner.
This success is being scaled nationally through collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) via the Centre for Hygiene and Sanitation Excellence (CHASE), which codifies Suvidha’s learnings as a national template for urban India.
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