Coffee shops can balance toilet hygiene, costs to boost business

A recent study by Singapore Management University found that coffee shop toilets were the dirtiest among more than 2,600 toilets surveyed across Singapore (Coffee shop toilets found to be the dirtiest in SMU study of 2,600 public loos, Feb 3).

- Martin Lee Ming Han

While hygiene standards are crucial, could ageing infrastructure and facilities be contributing to these poor scores? Unlike hawker centres, which undergo periodic government-funded renovations, private coffee shops do not always have structured renovation cycles.

These operators are profit-driven businesses focused on maximising returns for their owners. Upgrading toilets – especially in older buildings – can be costly, and some operators may be reluctant to invest in such improvements if they do not see a direct financial benefit.

The challenge is how to encourage improvements without imposing additional regulations that could increase costs for businesses and, ultimately, consumers.