HUL and Partners Open 25th Climate-Resilient ‘Suvidha Centre’ in Mumbai

MUMBAI, June 7, 2026 — Marking a major milestone in urban sanitation and social innovation, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), alongside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), HSBC India, and the JSW Foundation, today celebrated the 10th anniversary of the ‘Suvidha’ initiative with the launch of its 25th community hub in Borivali, Mumbai.

The landmark facility was officially inaugurated by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.

Launched as a pilot project in 2016, Suvidha has grown from a traditional community toilet concept into a highly successful, integrated hygiene model. Today, the network serves over 600,000 people annually, with services being utilized more than 10 crore (100 million) times since its inception.

Reimagining Urban Sanitation

Built to combat the unique public health challenges of rapid urbanization in low-income communities, each Suvidha Centre acts as a comprehensive utility hub. Under one roof, residents gain access to:

• Clean, well-maintained toilets

• Purified drinking water

• Modern shower and bathing areas

• Dedicated laundry facilities

Designed with strict parameters for inclusivity, the centers prioritize safety, affordability, and accessibility—particularly for women, children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

On the ground, the project is sustained by key partners including Pratha Samajik Sanstha and United Way Mumbai, with EY overseeing governance.

By saving time and avoiding preventable medical costs, an average household utilizing Suvidha unlocks over ₹33,500 annually. Furthermore, the centers have driven a 50% reduction in diarrhoeal diseases and significantly lowered the incidence of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) among users.

Financially, the model has proven to be incredibly resilient. Suvidha Centres operationally break even within just nine months of launching. All subsequent profits are channeled directly back into the centers to maintain best-in-class hygiene and maintenance standards.

“We have always believed that what is good for India is good for HUL,” said Priya Nair, CEO & MD of Hindustan Unilever Limited. “By using deep consumer and operational insights, we have created a financially sustainable model that addresses the challenges of urban sanitation at scale.”

Climate Resilience and National Scaling

With cities increasingly facing extreme weather, Suvidha Centres are built for the future. Every center is powered by solar energy and features advanced water recycling systems. To date, the initiative has saved over 30 crore liters of water, ensuring that vulnerable communities maintain access to critical hygiene services even during severe heatwaves and periods of water scarcity.

The success of the Mumbai model is now transitioning into a blueprint for the rest of the country. Through a partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) via the Centre for Hygiene and Sanitation Excellence (CHASE), Suvidha’s core design is being codified into a national template.

To accelerate this transformation, HUL and its partners have openly released the Suvidha Toolkit, inviting municipal corporations, civic bodies, and development partners across India to adapt, build, and scale these climate-resilient hubs in their own cities.