The Peepoo Bag

Find the New York Times article here. A very interesting "green" invention that focuses on both the social and environmental parts of the triple bottom line... I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it becomes financially successful, as well.

The New York Times’ science section recently wrote on a waste innovation from a Swedish architect called the PeePoo bag. The bio-degradable, one-time-use plastic bag could provide a more sustainable solution for human sewage management in urban slums around the world. Urea crystals within the bag break down the pathogens in feces. After use, the bag, which will be sold for 2-3 cents each, can be knotted and buried, turning into fertilizer. Anders Wilhelmson, who patented the bag, said “not only is it sanitary, they can reuse this to grow crops.” Wilhelmson tested the bag in Kenyan urban slums and found there were ample open space to bury the bags.

According to UN estimates, some 2.6 billion people or 40 percent of global population lack access to a toilet. Feces contaminates available drinking water in slums, and contributes to the early deaths of 1.5 million children per year. While the UN has set targets (improving the access to toilets by half by 2015), the private sector may need to get further involved in providing solutions. There is a large market firms can serve. Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization, told The New York Times there is a trillion-dollar potential market in low-income countries.