Amazon has teamed up with Unilever and Kimberly-Clark to deliver over 100,000 hygiene products to families experiencing poverty across UK.
From 23 May until 16 June, for every two purchases on Amazon.co.uk from a selection of over 500 personal hygiene products, Unilever and Kimberly-Clark will donate a third item to the Multibank initiative and In Kind Direct.
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, there are 14.5 million people living in poverty in the UK. Many cannot afford to adequately feed, clothe or clean themselves, or keep themselves warm.
A Multibank is a clothes, bedding, baby and hygiene bank all rolled into one. It connects surplus essential goods donated by Amazon and other businesses, with people in need, via a network of local charities and care professionals.
Amazon co-founded the UK’s first Multibank with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Fife, Scotland in 2022, followed by a second in Wigan in 2023, and a third Multibank in Swansea in 2024. Working together with charity partners, the network of Multibanks have donated more than 2 million surplus essentials to help more than 200,000 families experiencing poverty.
The campaign will also support In Kind Direct, a UK charity founded by HM King Charles III almost 30 years ago. In Kind Direct distribute consumer products donated by manufacturers and retailers to their network of 6000 charitable organisations across the UK, ensuring everyone has access to life’s essentials and that no usable product goes to waste.
Amazon is a long-standing partner of In Kind Direct, supporting them in their mission since 2009.
Eugenie Teasley, UK Head of Impact, Amazon said: “Our goal is to help as many families as possible by connecting surplus essentials from Amazon and other businesses, with those who need it most. Our Multibanks have already supported over 200,000 families in need with the donation of more than 2 million essential items and with this additional support from Unilever, Kimberley-Clark and our customers, we’ll be able to help even more. Donations will also go to In Kind Direct, a charity we’ve proudly supported for more than 15 years.”
Rosanne Gray, CEO at In Kind Direct said: “We are thrilled to be launching this campaign in partnership with Amazon, Unilever and Kimberly-Clark. Donations driven by Amazon customers will unlock so many essential products for the people who really need them, which will be life-changing. Millions of people are having to go without the products they need to keep clean and well and our network of charitable organisations are relying on us more than ever to help them support their local communities.”
Chris Barron, General Manager for Personal Care UK&I at Unilever, said: “The support that the Multibank initiative and In Kind Direct provide is so important, helping households that are facing hygiene poverty to access the daily products that help people to feel clean and confident. We know that together we can do more, so we’re really pleased to be partnering with Amazon and Kimberly-Clark with a shared commitment to get more products to the charities and people that need them most.”
The campaign will run on Amazon.co.uk until 16th June 2024 and can be accessed at this link.