NEW YORK: Colgate, the global leader in oral care, is behind the skill for Amazon Alexa designed to remind people to save water while brushing their teeth.
With Colgate products in two-thirds of households worldwide, the toothpaste manufacturer is urging the public to be aware of water waste while brushing their teeth and conducting other daily personal and home-care routines. The booming voice-enabled in-home technology provides an ideal way to keep water conservation top-of-mind in a fun and playful way.
Forty-two percent of adults in the United States do not turn off the faucet while brushing[1], and leaving the faucet on when brushing for two minutes can waste up to four gallons of potable drinking water[2]. To inspire change, Colgate created a skill for Amazon Alexa aimed at water conservation called "Save Water by Colgate," now available to users with any Alexa-enabled device.
The utterance, "Alexa, enable Save Water" begins a dialogue where users can receive water conservation facts or tips, and even the whimsical option for Alexa to play the sound of running water to "replace" the sound of actual water going down the drain for two minutes, the dentist-recommended amount of time to properly brush teeth[3]. From conserving the Earth's most precious resource to maintaining good oral health, this skill is an interactive way to elicit positive behavioral changes at the local and national level.
"Colgate continues to commit resources to drive sustainability innovation as it relates to water conservation," said Lori Michelin, vice president of sustainability & environmental health and safety at Colgate-Palmolive. "Knowing that the next generation is more digitally connected than ever, we're exploring new and engaging channels to reach our consumers with a simple message that can make an incredible impact."
Within the Alexa app, users can also scroll through cards on their mobile device or computer, to see water tips or facts from their recent interactions with the "Save Water by Colgate" skill.
