HAND-WASH STATION

In a bid to encourage safety, Japanese start-up Wota Corp has set up 20 hand-washing stations near popular retail outlets in
Ginza’s busy shopping str

05 Janeiro 2021 - Japan - Pillars: Convenience, Localism, Physical, Protection

STATISTICS

60%
of Japanese consumers are worried about getting sick themselves
Global Consumer – July 2020 – The Holistic Consumer

Go to Observation
OBSERVATION
SUPPORTED TRENDS
News brief
In a bid to encourage safety, Japanese start-up Wota Corp has set up 20
hand-washing stations near popular retail outlets in Ginza’s busy
shopping street.

Wota Corp’s hand-washing machine ‘Wosh’ is a sustainable device which

doesn’t require access to running water systems and sources recycled
water instead of fresh water. The three-step recycle process includes
membrane filtration, chlorine and deep ultraviolet irradiation. Wosh also
comes equipped with a feature that cleans smartphones by exposing the Prepare for the Worst
device to ultraviolet light for 20-30 seconds.
Buzz: 5 Lifecycle: Established

Why it matters Moderation and preparation are in as consumers

prepare for the worst.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, consumers have developed a heightened
sense of awareness for upholding safety protocols when in public. Hand
washing, along with using disinfectant spray, has become a normalised
part of consumers’ daily routine. Wota Corp’s mobile hand-washing
station is thus a timely device which promotes better hygiene and
eliminates long queues at bathroom stalls. Perhaps the most innovative
aspect of this initiative is the built-in smartphone cleaning feature, which
lets users disinfect their phones while they wash their hands.
Smartphones need to be cleaned just as frequently as your hands, since
they accumulate a large amount of germs from the user’s hands and face,
thereby negating the impact of hand washing. The use of recycled water Rebirth of Cities
instead of sourcing from water tanks is also another appeal point for Buzz: 5 Lifecycle: Established
environmentally conscious consumers who seek to reduce their
ecological footprint and save energy. Too many people, too little space. Cities are
dynamic spaces that are changing and
transforming to maximise their potential in line with
What we’ve seen the wants and needs of their citizens.
Free Hand Wash: Lush is allowing passers-by to use its sinks and soaps
to wash their hands to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Beautiful Disinfectants: Cosmetics giant Amorepacific has announced it

will launch a new brand of hand sanitisers to meet the needs of
coronavirus-wary consumers.

Wash Your Hands and Your Food: Dacetix is a non-toxic sanitizer that
can be directly applied to food before its consumption.
What’s next?
As covered by Mintel Trend Driver Wellbeing, maintaining health, safety
and good hygiene will continue to gain salience as we transition to 2021.
COVID-19 currently shows little sign of slowing down, so the demand for
inventions such as Wosh will likely increase as well, in order to curve the
risk of cluster phenomena in populous areas. In a similar vein, the future
of health and safety will be intrinsically tied to smart technology and using
innovation to make consumers' lives safer, more secure and convenient.
Examples include developing touch-free solutions for disinfectants,
holographic touchscreens and delivery robots which cut down the need
for human-to-human interaction.
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