
Safisana
Model & Strategy
Safisana has developed an integrated, circular-waste management system for use in developing countries. Safisana 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—Safisana 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, Safisana 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 Safisana, 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 Safisana, 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, Safisana was born. All three partners had different motivations for embarking on the Safisana 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
Safisana 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.
Safisana 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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Production of organic fertilizer in Ghana is picking up! https://t.co/8Sizs9C5w1
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Yeey, we are getting ready to double the power producing capacity at our plant in Ghana! The team is getting two d… https://t.co/vdquYLjoZw
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We are proud to present this updated 7 minute documentary on the working of our waste recycling plant in Ghana. Wan… https://t.co/0rN9snsQXa
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Check this out: ‘Ghana Goes Organic’ - that is SUPERGOOD news for Safisana as a local Ghanaian company that produc… https://t.co/vKSJZbw691
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For those who missed it, check this #webinar on succesful circular sanitation businesses in Africa, that was recent… https://t.co/9ipwLfom0x
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https://t.co/EyEAWNo7LM Great news item on the Premium Organic Fertilizer we produce in Ashaiman, Greater Accra!… https://t.co/gfCnm7WgLO
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Inspiring sessions and fruitful meetings at #AllSystemsConnect2023 #makingsanitationaffordable #circulareconomy… https://t.co/884dBddFIe
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Great insights and inspiration during the round table session at the #AllSystemsConnect2023 in The Hague todat wit… https://t.co/yXtBanDxFU
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Global food system emits around one-third of total annual greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling of organic waste pos… https://t.co/1ENruroUPP
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Meet the people of Safisana, learn about our community impact, the latest awareness campaign and upcoming events in… https://t.co/3IVp75hlKi
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Looking back on a very succesfull #globalrecyclingday2023 celebration, last Saturday at two local markets in… https://t.co/GFlVeun6w3
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Check this: the launch of our Grow Food Not Waste awareness raising campaign, on the #Ashaiman Main Market and… https://t.co/aIEKNJPKWk
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Energy transition expert and #Safisana board member Raymon Okrofu @OkrofuR was invited by the American research in… https://t.co/YzvhmJfmz2
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On #InternationalWomensDay, we like you to meet Gloria Annor, our Plant Supervisor and one of Safisana’s longest-wo… https://t.co/0hItevV5xy
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RT @Marleen_Nelisse: Thanks Emily @Sanivation and @vg_loowatt for ur visit! Visits like these are great to learn from each other's business…
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Yeey! https://t.co/GUJvdLLqE2
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Whoohoop! We are proud to present #WeAreSafisana, a new series of personal stories about ll the people that contrib… https://t.co/PTFllBnT9O
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RT @AquaforAll: Meet Aart van den Beukel, Managing Director of @SafiSana_org ! In this interview, Aart shares his journey with Safisana in…
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Good news for all #farmers, #landscapers, #homegardeners in #kumasi and #Ashanti: the first batches of… https://t.co/r7WIg5E3cu
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Watch this video interview with Doctor Naalamle Amissah, head of Crop Science of University of Ghana, about the im… https://t.co/0OlIU21DDG