
Safi Sana
Model & Strategy
Safi Sana has developed an integrated, circular-waste management system for use in developing countries. Safi Sana collects human and organic (food) waste that would otherwise pose a health hazard and transforms it into energy and fertilizer in a self-sustaining model.
Through a novel modification of existing technology—including an anaerobic digester and a combined heat and power generator—Safi Sana collects waste; converts it into electricity, water for irrigation, and compost; and sells the products locally. By looking at human and organic waste as materials with value, Safi Sana turns the byproducts of waste treatment into revenue, while delivering vast improvements in health and sanitation in slum communities.



Aart van den Beukel has over twenty years of entrepreneurial experience in establishing sustainable businesses. Prior to founding Safi Sana, Aart co-founded a bakery in Amerstdam, which quickly progressed to a wholesale bakery and catering business. Soon it was time for a new challenge and Aart responded to the ask of leading Safi Sana, the world’s first complete circular industry; disposing of organic waste to provide sustainable energy and compost.
From an idea of the founding partners Aqua for All, Royal Haskoning DHV and the Dutch top tier bank Rabobank, Safi Sana was born. All three partners had different motivations for embarking on the Safi Sana journey, yet had one thing in common: a vision around the value of solid waste and wastewater. All three of them held their own pieces of the complex puzzle of creating value out of waste and shared the realization that they needed to join forces to maximize their mutual impact. Aart had the ambition and drive to enable the group to set up a showcase factory in Accra, Ghana. Commercial operations began at the factory in September 2016 and proof of concept was established in 2018/19 with current plans for global scale-up. For his vision and leadership, Aart was awarded the Sarphati Sanitation Award in 2015 for the most promising sanitation business case by a young entrepreneur and the Doing Business in Africa Award in 2017.
Impact
Safi Sana currently operates a facility in the Ashaiman slum in Accra, Ghana, where it collects and processes 20% of the waste produced by a community of 250,000 people and converts it into revenue-generating products. It is reducing the health and environmental burden of toilet waste in the community, producing green energy and creating local jobs.
Safi Sana aims to replicate this model across Africa, building three additional facilities and expanding to other countries including Mali, Zimbabwe and Uganda. By 2025 Safisana expects to have 3 large reuse plants in operation.
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RT @AquaforAll: Aqua for All & @SafiSana_org continue their partnership in a blended #finance model involving different grantors and invest…
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In 2018, @SigridKaag visited our recycling plant in Ghana. In Mali we've started a feasibility for a second plant i… https://t.co/1poqOd3Zqg
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Read (and subscribe if you like to) the latest Safisana newsletter! https://t.co/eKqRY7OBQv
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We treat organic and faecal waste as a resource to create value. That's how we make sanitation and waste treatment… https://t.co/uOu3mOb2ut
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Safisana is scaling up! A good moment to introduce this very funky logo as part of a brand new identity designed by… https://t.co/AEEEn2rsLg
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Heeft onlangs een video geplaatst https://t.co/Eyj3VNJGOM
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This is how we contribute to the circular economy in low and mid income countries: with a scalable and low cost sol… https://t.co/Uj8Bwj15ik
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Preparing the grounds to start the feasibility work in Bamako with our partners to impact those that lack proper sa… https://t.co/e6Kk07U96L
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Lots of music at today's #WorldToiletDay2020 celebrations in #Ashaiman, #Ghana. The global theme was adapted to 'To… https://t.co/n0hIqYV1uv
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There are still a few digital seats available! https://t.co/3UfG6qxIbv
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Tomorrow we will be present at the Impact Fest 2020 to celebrate the European launch of the DRK Foundation, a great… https://t.co/Y3Tf9oKAcE
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Want to help us make social, economic and environmental impact on the lives of thousands of people in non sewered u… https://t.co/VrJgyqvkWs
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Thanks @AkuaDufie for highlighting the #Netherlands' first #Klimaatdag and for using @SafiSana_org as an example on… https://t.co/JpdNxEraDX
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Last week @SafiSana_org and members of the Adjei Kojo community organized a big cleanup to remove the rubbish and p… https://t.co/lYDcHF7ztT
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Please join us NOW on the @PFE_FWP webinar on Blended Finance for #water & #climate where @SafiSana_org will share… https://t.co/pWEjvCH3HH
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We invite you to join our online presentation with @1001Fontaines where we will talk about our experiences so far a… https://t.co/mtydvtD8Rz
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RT @PFE_FWP: Webinar on ‘Blended finance for water & climate: when theory meets practice’. Join @PFE_FWP, @OECD_ENV, @OECD, @1001Fontaines,…
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Today was the first workshop where @SafiSana_org invited (#faecal) waste operators for a training on proper #Waste… https://t.co/wTUC0pQKaN