SAFELOO COMPOSTABLE TOILET
Project Intro:
Safeloo is a biodegradable, easy-to-deploy composting toilet system designed for emergency situations in urban environments. It restores access to basic sanitation during crises—without plumbing, electricity, or waste—ensuring dignity, safety, and ecological responsibility when it’s needed most.
Project Type:
Product design, Sustainability, High fidelity
Work time:
Sep. 2023— Dec. 2023
Team or Individual:
Individual work
Provide rapid-deployment, environmentally sustainable emergency toilet facilities for communities affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes in Los Angeles, ensuring efficient waste management through centralized collection and composting
MISSION STATEMENT
The Los Angeles area is prone to various natural disasters due to its geographic location, including extreme heat, mudslides, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes. Among these, earthquakes are the most frequent and destructive, posing a significant threat to the region.
OLD HOUSES:
A POTENTIAL HAZARD IN THE WAKE OF EARTHQUAKES
Los Angeles has over 1.5 million houses, with the median construction year being 1963. While many of these homes are structurally sound, either inherently or through renovations, a small portion remains at risk due to factors such as the financial constraints of their owners.
HOME CONSTRUCTION BY DECADE
WHAT IF…
What if the destruction of old houses leaves residents without access to functional sanitation facilities, forcing them to find alternative places to use the toilet?
…
What if the collapse of old houses disrupts sewage systems, creating significant challenges in the disposal and management of human waste?
…
CHEMICAL TOILET VS. COMPOSING TOILET, WHICH ONE?
When using a large chemical toilet, waste is broken down through chemical treatment and later collected by a unified feces recycling truck. However, the chemical treatment process can release harmful substances into the environment, and improper disposal or leakage during transportation may contaminate soil and water sources, posing risks to ecosystems and human health
In contrast, a composting toilet allows for direct excretion into garbage bags, which can then be disposed of chemically or even landfilled if properly removed, making it a more versatile and environmentally friendly option. But we still need make a reasonable management and treatment
BENCHMARK OF FOLDABLE COMPOSTING TOILET
Amazon's best-selling folding products are divided into two types, one with only the folding toilet part, and the other with an additional small tent.
A toilet containing a tent contains the following items:
Fold the black plastic toilet
Tent (with skylight for bathing)
12 packs of SAP powder
Four tent nails
Bag of storage
A black garbage bag
GOOD COMMENTS:
No smell
Easy to carry
Occasionally it can be used as a stool
Have a reasonable amount of privacy
BAD COMMENTS:
Not strong enough
It's too short for a very tall person
Plastic bags are prone to leaks
They don't know how to dispose of and sort garbage
Tents are of poor quality and easily damaged
MATERIAL ANALYSIS:
In the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of each material and its associated pollution impact reveals several opportunities for material substitution. For example, galvanized iron could be replaced with more sustainable options, and nylon cloth could be swapped for biodegradable or recycled fabrics. By evaluating the environmental footprint of materials used in these products—spanning extraction, production, usage, and disposal—we can uncover ways to improve sustainability.
DESIGN
The design aims to eliminate the use of metals, relying entirely on eco-friendly materials. For waste management, it prioritizes fully biodegradable solutions, including the bags used for waste collection. Additionally, the product is designed to ensure a long service life while maintaining environmental sustainability.
MOODBOARD
SAFELOO
11111
