2022

Global Hygiene & Health Survey

The Future of Well-being

As a leading global hygiene and health company, we continuously gather insights that help us break barriers to well-being and contribute to inclusive, stigma-free societies. This time, we have talked to more than 15,000 people in 15 countries all over the world about the gap between their current behaviors and attitudes towards well-being and how they would like to live in the future.

15,000

People talked to

Countries researched

One key insight from the survey is the link between physical and mental well-being. Our hygiene solutions, educational initiatives and partnerships help reduce shame and social exclusion and to improve both people’s physical and mental health in the process.

Learn more and download the full survey

Future personal care

Future hygiene dialogue

Future of care giving

Health threats of tomorrow

Redesigning public spaces

Sustainable consumption

Future personal care

As we look to the future, our new lifestyles are creating new demands on the well-being and support we need.

One in three claim that they want to worry less about their future well-being, so they can instead focus on more positive aspects of their lives, like dreams and family. There is work to be done then, since as many as two out of three experience barriers to living healthier, stating time and motivation as the biggest.

34%
say that being free from pain and discomfort is most essential to their daily well-being.

"I try to keep moving as much as possible now, so I can have a pain-free and active lifestyle in the future."
Kelly, 55, USA

What people want to focus on the most

People’s biggest barriers

How many want to focus more on exercise to improve their well-being in the future?

Can you guess?

17%

43%

65%

Correct. 43% say exercising regularly is something they want to focus more on.

Learn how Essity helps provide pain relief and reduce tissue swelling with Actimove and JOBST.

Incorrect. 43% say exercising regularly is something they want to focus more on.

Learn how Essity helps provide pain relief and reduce tissue swelling with Actimove and JOBST.

Future hygiene dialogue

Stigmas and taboos negatively affect the fulfilment of peoples’ needs, especially among the young.

55%

claim to be knowledgeable about menstruation.

45%

agree that schools creating spaces for dialogue and education is necessary to reduce shame and stigma.

23%

go through incontinence avoiding talking about it.

For example, only 55% claim to be knowledgeable about menstruation. And as many as 23% going through incontinence say they avoid talking about it. Education could play an important role here, with as many as 45% agreeing that schools creating spaces for dialogue and education is necessary to reduce shame and stigma.

15%

of females have learned about menstruation from school.

“Conversations need to start happening, either behind closed or open doors, about these sensitive topics. Because that is the only way they will spread to more open forums.”
Rahul, 27, India

"Women can not get pregnant once they reach menopause."

Is this statement correct?

Yes

Correct. Women can get pregnant during menopause, even if they are not having periods.

Essity helps women prepare for menopause with TENA.

TENA helps caregivers provide loved ones with incontinence the right hygiene.
Bodyform launches initiatives to break period taboos and fight period poverty.

Uncover more myths about health and hygiene in our infographic

Incorrect. Women can get pregnant during menopause, even if they are not having periods.

Essity helps women prepare for menopause with TENA.

TENA helps caregivers provide loved ones with incontinence the right hygiene
Bodyform launches initiatives to break period taboos and fight period poverty.

Uncover more myths about health and hygiene in our infographic

Future of care giving

What’s needed for the future of professional care and how can we empower people to take care of their own and others’ health?

43%

say emotional and psychological support would make it easier to be a caregiver.

1 in 3 would like workplace compensation and time for being a caregiver.

45%

feel comfortable sharing personal data for digital healthcare.

43% say emotional and psychological support would make it easier to be a caregiver, while 1 in 3 would like workplace compensation and time for being a caregiver. Digitization is part of the solution. However, only 45% feel comfortable sharing personal data for digital healthcare.

61%

agree that digitization saves time for caregivers to spend with patients.

“I want to live at home for as long as possible and if digital care can help with the heavy lifting, the burden won’t become too large on the ones taking care of me.”
Larry, 45, UK

"1 in 4 adults want their partners and parents to be more involved as caregivers."

Is this statement correct?

False

True

This statement is true. 1 in 4 adults want their partners and parents to be more involved as caregivers.

Learn how Essity is innovating in this area with TENA.

This statement is true. 1 in 4 adults want their partners and parents to be more involved as caregivers.

Learn how Essity is innovating in this area with TENA.

Health threats of tomorrow

The list of global threats to public health is long. Trust in governments is declining and people are increasingly turning to experts for advice.

The numbers of people who worry about war (56%) and food shortage (55%) have seen the biggest increases over the last years. The fear of antimicrobial resistance to public health persists (54%).

People are concerned about hygiene and the mental toll of constant danger is beginning to show.

What people worry about most

Swipe to explore chart

Only

50%

know what antimicrobial resistance is.

Also,

54%

are worried that lack of proper hygiene at healthcare facilities might expose them to antimicrobial resistant germs.

Want to know more about antimicrobial resistance and how to fight it?

Learn more at essity.com

"Even more now, I feel that practicing good hygiene habits is a matter of mutual respect and disease prevention."

Louise, 33, France

How many are worried that poor hygiene habits of the people around them might expose them to antimicrobial resistant germs?

Can you guess?

52%

42%

32%

Correct. 52% agree with the statement “I am worried that poor hygiene habits of people around me might expose me to antimicrobial resistant germs.”

Learn how Essity works with infection prevention, wound care and Antimicrobial Resistance with Cutimed and through initiatives and partnerships.

Incorrect. 52% agree with the statement “I am worried that poor hygiene habits of people around me might expose me to antimicrobial resistant germs.”

Learn how Essity works with infection prevention, wound care and Antimicrobial Resistance with Cutimed and through initiatives and partnerships.

Redesigning public spaces

The pandemic has increased the scrutiny on hygiene standards in public places.

People not only want them to meet the most basic hygiene and product needs, but to also go above and beyond to ensure accessibility and high standards.

Washrooms of the future will be expected to integrate technology and 2 in 3 say access to basic personal hygiene products is essential to well-being in public spaces.

2 out of 3 say access to basic personal hygiene products is essential to well-being in public spaces.

Only

1 in 4

say they feel safe about hygiene standards in public bathrooms.

“I don’t feel comfortable when visiting a public bathroom, and I always avoid touching surfaces. Having contactless bathroom devices would make me feel safer.”
Dorothea, 44, Germany

"Drying your hands with paper towels after washing is better than using an air dryer."

Is this statement correct?

False

True

This statement is true. Jet air dryers spread 10X more bacteria and compared to paper hand towels produce more airborne droplets, increasing the risk of bacteria spread.

Learn how Essity sets the standard for cleaning and hygiene in public and workspaces with Tork.

This statement is true. Jet air dryers spread 10X more bacteria and compared to paper hand towels produce more airborne droplets, increasing the risk of bacteria spread.

Learn how Essity sets the standard for cleaning and hygiene in public and workspaces with Tork.

Sustainable consumption

There is a desire amongst consumers for health and hygiene products that are good for them, the environment and society.

One in three are willing to pay more to live sustainably...

12,77%

and they are willing to pay 12,77% more for more sustainable hygiene and medical products.

However, making sustainable choices is not as easy as it might seem. Barriers such as cost, effort and access must be lowered, and only 1 in 3 are willing to pay more to live sustainably.
Finding reliable information to make better purchasing decisions is also a daunting task for consumers – and an opportunity for businesses.

61%

say they themselves are responsible for ensuring that they consume sustainably.

“I don’t mind paying more for sustainable items if it has been developed so it’s good for me and the environment.”
Sofie, 36, Sweden

How many would be willing to sort their waste for better recycling?

Can you guess?

55%

66%

77%

Correct. 77% say yes to “Sorting all my waste for better recycling”.

Learn more about Essity’s commitment to a sustainable and circular society here.

Incorrect. 77% say yes to “Sorting all my waste for better recycling”.

Learn more about Essity’s commitment to a sustainable and circular society here.

Get the full picture

Download the full Global Hygiene and Health Survey 2022 results as a PDF, or a one page infographic showing the top myths and misconceptions from our survey to get the full picture.

Full survey results

Infographic

Global Hygiene & Health Survey

The Future of Well-being

Table of contents

Future personal care

What people want to focus on the most

People’s biggest barriers

How many want to focus more on exercise to improve their well-being in the future?

Correct. 43% say exercising regularly is something they want to focus more on.

Incorrect. 43% say exercising regularly is something they want to focus more on.

Future hygiene dialogue

15%

"Women can not get pregnant once they reach menopause."

Correct. Women can get pregnant during menopause, even if they are not having periods.

Incorrect. Women can get pregnant during menopause, even if they are not having periods.

Future of care giving

61%

"1 in 4 adults want their partners and parents to be more involved as caregivers."

This statement is true. 1 in 4 adults want their partners and parents to be more involved as caregivers.

This statement is true. 1 in 4 adults want their partners and parents to be more involved as caregivers.

Health threats of tomorrow

What people worry about most

50%

54%

Want to know more about antimicrobial resistance and how to fight it?

How many are worried that poor hygiene habits of the people around them might expose them to antimicrobial resistant germs?

Correct. 52% agree with the statement “I am worried that poor hygiene habits of people around me might expose me to antimicrobial resistant germs.”

Incorrect. 52% agree with the statement “I am worried that poor hygiene habits of people around me might expose me to antimicrobial resistant germs.”

Redesigning public spaces

1 in 4

"Drying your hands with paper towels after washing is better than using an air dryer."

This statement is true. Jet air dryers spread 10X more bacteria and compared to paper hand towels produce more airborne droplets, increasing the risk of bacteria spread.

This statement is true. Jet air dryers spread 10X more bacteria and compared to paper hand towels produce more airborne droplets, increasing the risk of bacteria spread.

Sustainable consumption

12,77%

61%

How many would be willing to sort their waste for better recycling?

Correct. 77% say yes to “Sorting all my waste for better recycling”.

Incorrect. 77% say yes to “Sorting all my waste for better recycling”.

Get the full picture