Designing the Next Generation of Sanitation Business

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Designing the Next Generation of Sanitation Business

Dozens of innovative sanitation solutions have gained ground across the world: NGOs are training village-based producers to adopt efficient latrine production techniques and market them in neighboring villages; scientists are developing new processing technologies to capture economic value from human waste; local entrepreneurs are developing waste collection services in slums. 

What makes these projects distinctive is that they serve the Base of the Pyramid1 (BoP) in a financially sustainable manner by selling improved sanitation solutions at a price that the poor are willing and able to pay. 

This Report is a testimony of the work of these innovators and entrepreneurs – their creativity, vision and energy. 

Yet, although these market-based innovations have already provided millions of poor with access to improved sanitation, they struggle to scale-up and reach the estimated two and a half billion people who still do not have access to improved sanitation to this day. 

1 The Base of the Pyramid refers to the 3-4 billion people who live on less than $2.50 per day. This is the largest but poorest socio-economic group. 

After analyzing the challenges that these innovations face, we found that large corporations can play a crucial role in addressing them. For instance, consumer goods companies could leverage their marketing expertise to develop better sanitation marketing campaigns, construction companies can help manufacturing quality and affordable toilet units and chemical companies can help developing efficient solutions for odorless toilets. 

While we acknowledge the role that the public and non-profit sectors need to play and continue to play, this Report is designed to highlight opportunities for business to contribute their distinct capabilities and resources to solving the sanitation crisis.

Source: SOIL Haiti

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