According to the latest study conducted by Tork (Essity brand and world leader in professional hygiene), more than 9 out of 10 French people are sensitive to the cleanliness of public places. Conversely, one in 2 hesitates to return after a bad experience near the sinks.
In restaurants which are increasingly part of the daily life of the French, sanitary hygiene is essential as a criterion of satisfaction and loyalty. 84% of French people questioned in this study have visited a restaurant in the last six months, making these spaces a full-fledged point of contact between establishments and their customers. Far from being trivial, their cleanliness contributes directly to the perception of the experience. 91% of consumers say they are sensitive to hygiene in public places, including 52% very sensitive and 39% rather sensitive. A result that is reflected in their behavior : half of those surveyed say they will hesitate to return after a bad experience in the bathroom.
Sanitary facilities contribute to the image of the establishment
If only 3%* of consumers believe that public places rarely meet their expectations in terms of hygiene, these results show that sanitary facilities remain a strategic space for CHR professionals. Cleanliness, availability of hygiene products and quality of equipment create a welcoming environment for customers. “In a restaurant, each stage of the customer journey builds its experience. Including the passage to the toilets. Cleanliness and availability of hygiene products are not just about comfort : they contribute to the overall perception of the establishment and can influence the desire to return there”, observes Eric Guazaroni, Director of Professional Hygiene Business Unit at Essity Tork.
Tork, a global brand
These figures come from the “Tork Insight Survey 2026” study., performed between February 20 and March 16, 2026 in the United States, UK, in Germany, In France, in Mexico, Canada, in Australia, in Spain, in Sweden, in the Netherlands and Poland with 11,500 customers and 1,100 facility managers and facility managers. Distributors, paper hand towels, paper toilet, Savon, napkins and wiping cloths, but also software solutions dedicated to data-driven cleaning : the Tork brand offers hygiene products and services to professionals around the world, from restaurants to healthcare establishments to offices, schools and industries.
