World Toilet Day, observed annually on 19 November, highlights the importance of universal access to sanitation. This year, Laufen marks the occasion by showcasing its impactful contribution in Kenya. The initiative, established in 2001 by the World Toilet Organization, became one of the United Nations' official world days in 2013.
In 2022, the Swiss non-profit association Harrison's Primary School, founded in 2018 to support the eponymous school in Kenya, approached Laufen for assistance in upgrading their bathrooms. Laufen enthusiastically supported the project, which was completed in 2023, providing modern and functional toilets for over 200 students and staff.
Laufen's pioneering innovations
In 2019, Laufen launched the pioneering urine-separation toilet 'save!' that meets the latest industry standards. Developed in collaboration with Austrian design studio EOOS, the save! toilet separates urine from other waste, enabling it to be reused as fertiliser. This innovative technology conserves water and transforms waste into a sustainable resource.
A circular concept for Harrison's Primary School
This revolutionary toilet was included in a water-saving and sanitary redevelopment project at Harrison's Primary School. Located in an area with scarce rainfall and limited infrastructure near Mombasa, Kenya, the school had relied on basic pit latrines, creating an urgent need for intervention.
As part of the redevelopment project, Laufen donated six innovative save! toilets, enabling a sustainable approach to water and waste management. These toilets play a key role in minimizing water use, locally treating wastewater, and collecting urine to be repurposed as fertiliser.
Today, students benefit from dignified facilities, a school vegetable garden, and a circular system that conserves water while supporting food production.
'When we heard about the project in Kenya, it was crystal clear to us that we wanted to support this initiative. As one of the global leading brands in sanitation and bathroom technology, it is our aim to act as ambassadors and introduce new technologies to global markets in order to make people's daily lives easier. With our separation toilet save!, we can ensure that the school kids have safe and hygienic access to sanitation,' says Sebastian Schmidt, Head of Sales Switzerland, Laufen Schweiz AG.
Innovative waste and water management
Harrison's Primary School also implemented a faeces treatment system, where waste is flushed with minimal water into a worm filter. Earthworms transform the waste into nutrient-rich compost daily. After a year of storage, this compost is used to fertilize the newly established vegetable garden.
Remaining liquids are pre-filtered and flow into a wetland area. Sand and reeds filter the water for several days before it is pumped up, purified, and reused for toilet flushing. A perfectly circular system!
Rainwater collection tanks supply water to the handwashing stations, which reduce waste by using drinking nipples for pigs. These release water only when touched.
'Our worms like faeces but not urine! The Laufen save! toilets played a key role in enabling us to implement a completely self-sufficient sanitation system. Powered solely by rainwater and solar power, we can keep operating costs to a minimum. This reduces our dependence on future donations and teaches children and staff how to use scarce resources sustainably,' explains Joshua Schmidli, founder of Harrison's Primary School.
More information:
Laufen
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www.laufen.com