Keep the poop in the loop
Today we are presenting two circular initiatives and a documentary film that are trying to break a taboo. It's about keeping our human waste in the loop. The start-up Kompotoi builds composting toilets for events, public spaces, in tourism and on construction sites. The komm:loop simulation game shows how the framework conditions could be changed through the interaction of municipalities, companies, farmers and private individuals.
A crazy idea 12 years ago, now winner of the Swiss Ethics Award | The Swiss company Kompotoi has been around for over 10 years and has grown into a team of over 20 people with a subsidiary in Germany. The start-up is constantly expanding its product range and carries out research and educational work together with the VaLoop association. This year, Kompotoi was one of four companies to receive the Swiss Ethics Award: Kompotoi in Winterthur - was honoured for its aesthetic, environmentally friendly and completely odourless composting toilet solutions for garden sheds, festivals and mountain huts. Kompotoi rents out ‘cosy’ wooden toilets, which are much more pleasant than conventional plastic/chemical toilets. The Kompotois are handmade in Switzerland with great attention to detail. ’
More about the Swiss Ethics Award
More about the VaLoo association, which is supported by the Migros Pioneer Fund at
More about the history of the Kompotoi start-up
Sawdust with a difference | This year, the team ventured into the biggest public event to date and brought 100 Kompotois to the Northeast Swiss Wrestling Festival in Meilen. This was not only a logistical feat, but also brought the ideas of Kompotoi to the centre of Swiss society, complete with sawdust. Find out more about the visitors' reactions in the video next door.
‘Holy shit’. A film and a book | The documentary film ‘Holy shit’ takes up the fact that the flush toilet model also causes many problems globally and traces the beginnings of a ‘toilet revolution’ worldwide. The film can currently be viewed in its entirety on SRF (82 minutes).
Today's book tip: ‘Holy shit. The book.’ by Annette Jensen
Background and teaching material is also available on the film's website
The komm:loop simulation game for the sanitation and nutrient transition The komm:loop simulation game is an experimental space in which the players explore the path to a circular future in the role of municipal actors. As in reality, change can only succeed with strong alliances. But what strengths do people and organisations need for this systemic change? And how do we deploy resources in such a way that we don't lose sight of the mandatory tasks despite the impending transformation? In the reflection and transfer phase, systemic contexts are explored in more depth and the game experience is analysed with a view to the future.
