According to the World Health Organization, pneumonia and diarrhea are two of the leading causes of death among children, under the age of five, in developing countries. Yet, both can be prevented by access to simple hygiene products that most of us take for granted.

Shawn Seipler is on a mission to save millions of lives using soap, while at the same time, offering programs to protect the environment. He is the founder of the nonprofit social enterprise, Clean the World, the largest global recycler of hotel hygiene products.

“If we just gave these children soap and taught them how and when to wash their hands, we could cut those deaths in half,” Seipler explained.

Shawn Seipler: Cleaning the world

Clean the World Founder Shawn Seipler talks about changing the world and saving lives, one bar of soap at a time.

The impact has been enormous. Since launching the effort in Orlando, Florida back in 2009, Clean the World has distributed more than 30 million bars of soap to children and families in 100 countries around the world. In that time, the number of deaths from these diseases has dropped by 35%.

“That invigorates us, that inspires us to want to do more. We’re now launching another program in Tanzania,” Seipler said.

Shawn Seipler joined May Lee in our Los Angeles studio to talk about changing the world and saving lives, one bar of soap at a time.