Every year, thousands of hotels across the world discard perfectly usable soap, while millions of people in refugee camps struggle without access to basic hygiene. Among those most affected are the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority group. Forced to flee their homeland of Myanmar, around one million Rohingya now live in overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — one of the largest refugee settlements in the world. In these camps, poor sanitation and limited access to soap have made preventable diseases a major threat. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death among children under five, yet hygiene kits remain scarce.

In response, partnered with Earth Company, Impact Hero 2022 Samir Lakhani and his organization Eco-Soap Bank launched an international crowdfunding campaign in September 2024. For the first time, Earth Company raised funds not only within Japan but globally — mobilizing US$68,314 from 206 supporters across 11 countries. These funds enabled the installation of an advanced soap-making machine at Eco-Soap Bank’s factory in Cambodia, drastically increasing production capacity and expanding impact across Asia and Africa.