Shower power. 🚿 Leah Stigile (she/her), co-founder and CEO of hai, is serious about making showers sustainable. “I have two small children and the shower is often one of the only moments I get to myself each day. The shower is an important part of both my physical and mental wellbeing—a true reset moment,” she says, “Over time, I realized that a lot of people felt the same, and while the shower is a self-care tool for so many of us, it always bothered me that it used a lot of non-renewable resources. That inspired me to help develop an amazing shower that allows you to be mindful of the resources you’re using, without sacrificing the experience.”

Now, let’s say hi to, well, hai.

So, what is hai?
Hai offers the world’s smartest, most personalized shower experience, with sustainability at its core. Since launching in 2022, we’ve been at the forefront of transforming self-care at home by elevating the shower into the most empowering ritual of your day.

Why are water conservation and sustainability so important? How does a hai showerhead help?
Believe it or not, the shower is the greatest contributor to water waste in the home and accounts for over 20% of residential indoor water use, which is even more than a dishwasher or washing machine. And while it may seem like Earth has an abundance of water, less than 1% is currently available for human consumption, making water conservation more important than ever before.

Hai helps with this by providing users the tools they need to actively monitor their consumption through customizable LED alerts and Bluetooth technology, which allow them to set target water usage limits within the hai app. With these tools, hai users save 34% more water against the national average and as of this month have saved over 2.5M gallons of water and 111,372 KWH of energy. As we grow, we’re excited to continue to create an even greater ecologically responsible footprint.

What can folks do to conserve water in the home outside of the shower?
There are countless ways people can conserve water at home outside of the shower, including taking a shower instead of a bath, turning off the water when brushing your teeth or washing the dishes, only using the dishwasher or washing machine when they’re full, and checking faucets and pipes for leaks (even a small small drip can waste 50 or more gallons of water a day!). While these may seem like small changes, they go a long way when it comes to reducing water consumption in the home.

Is there anything else you’ve done as a company to prioritize sustainability?
Yes! We’ve worked hard as a company to source innovative, environmentally-friendly packaging for all of our products. The box that the hai Smart Showerhead comes in is 100% recyclable and we place the product right in the shipping box to avoid any wasteful box-in-a-box packaging. Additionally, with our Infusions tablets, we created 100% water-dissolvable, compostable, individually packaged pouches, encouraging users to minimize waste especially in a category with a plethora of plastic packaging more generally. ICYDK, Our Infusions system, which launched earlier this year, consists of three unique shower tablets (Relax, Repair, and Energy Boost) that are thoughtfully formulated around core shower moments (A.M., P.M., and post-workout) and can be easily placed into the hai Fuse.

What is Clean the World and how are you involved with them?
The Clean the World Foundation is dedicated to water, sanitation, hygiene, and sustainability. They distribute soap that has been recycled from over 8,100 hospitality partners to people in need in over 127 countries. Together, we believe every single person deserves to have access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. Clean the World Foundation’s Fresh Start WASH & Wellness Program provides showers to those in need, giving thousands of individuals a renewed sense of hope and dignity. Hai Smart Showerheads are installed at mobile shower locations in Las Vegas, NV and Orlando, FL, and we’re continuing to outfit the remaining mobile showers in locations across the U.S. moving forward.

For a fun one, what are a few of your fave shower products?
As a busy mom on the go, I always gravitate towards products that keep my daily routine as simple and efficient as possible, but still really work hard. In terms of skincare, I use gentle face cleansers, even something as simple as a Dove Beauty Bar for sensitive skin, along with Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum paired with Estée Lauder’s DayWear to keep my skin fresh and smooth. Additionally, I’ve found that our Infusions system is the perfect compliment to my skincare routine. I love using the Repair tablet to help my body recover after a morning run or the Energy Boost tablet to wake me up and get my day going if I’m not working out.

What’s on the horizon for hai?
This summer, we launched a first-of-its-kind shower membership program called the hai life, which gives subscribers access to a variety of perks (including a quarterly refresh of Infusions tablets!), exclusive discounts, and early access to the latest hai launches and features. We’re excited to continue offering an unparalleled self-care experience while also helping consumers be more aware of their environmental impact.