Lixil named first commercial license partner for Georgia Tech Reinvented Toilet Technologies
The G2RT program had a global research team of 95 engineers, scientists, and industrial designers tasked with transforming traditional, infrastructure-dependent toilets into an appliance. LIXIL's commercial license follows a four-year partnership with Georgia Tech, as well as ongoing collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the Foundation's Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, initiated in 2011.
The G2RT itself is designed to operate independently of traditional infrastructure and provide an accessible, sustainable sanitation solution. Unlike conventional toilets that rely on sewer systems, septic tanks, cesspools, or latrine pits to dispose of waste, the G2RT is equipped with a self-contained processing unit that treats waste directly at the source. When the toilet is used, the liquid waste is puried and recycled for ushing, while the solid waste is subjected to high heat and pressure, eliminating pathogens and transforming it into safe, compostable, dry solids. This process prevents the contamination of water systems, thereby reducing the spread of diseases caused by fecal contamination and waterborne pathogens.
In addition to its public health benets, reinvented toilets will ultimately offer signicant cost savings in construction and installation. By removing the need to connect to sanitation grids or septic systems, this technology can be deployed without the need for extensive infrastructure development, enabling access to sanitation in communities where sewer infrastructure cannot reach.
"LIXIL's purpose is to make better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere, and the reality is that billions globally lack access to basic safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. We believe innovations in decentralizing waste treatment for a low-cost, reliable solution will be key to accelerating access to safe water and sanitation," said Erin McCusker, Senior Vice President, Leader, SATO and LIXIL Public Partners. "As an appliance-like solution, a 'Reinvented Toilet' helps remove barriers to sanitation access, and we're energized by the idea of continuing to invest in R&D to develop the G2RT into a market-ready product and provide people with improved, exible, and safe sanitation."
Georgia Tech's G2RT designs are standalone appliances that run on electricity, requiring no input water connection and no output sewage connection. In the development of the G2RT and in partnership with Georgia Tech, LIXIL acted as the commercial advisor, front-end designer, and manufacturer, delivering a total of 24 prototypes used for the laboratory and in-home tests across the United States, Europe, South Africa, India, and China. The prototypes were laboratory-tested in the United States and Europe, and then end-tested in people's homes in South Africa and India. The scientic results suggest that a reinvented toilet product would be able to achieve international sanitation standards, promising a clean, safe, and dignified future for all. As the first commercial licensee, LIXIL will invest in further development to renew these technologies into products suitable for both public and private sector use.
"It has been an honor to partner with LIXIL and lead this global R&D collaboration aimed at turning an infrastructure into an appliance. Looking to the future, we recognize that while half the world needs a toilet, the other half needs a better version," said Shannon Yee, a mechanical engineering professor at Georgia Tech who directs the G2RT consortium. "So next, our focus will pivot towards helping scale manufacturing of an accessible product, so that Reinvented Toilets can get to the people who need them the most."
As recently as 2023, 3.5 billion people around the world lacked access to safely managed sanitation services, increasing the risk of diseases like cholera and dysentery. As part of the commercial license, LIXIL is committed to the Gates Foundation's principle of "Global Access", which ensures these innovations reach those most in need of access to safe sanitation. LIXIL Public Partners, the company's public sector engagement and collaboration platform focused on delivering household solutions for water, sanitation, and hygiene, will lead the development and application of G2RT design concepts, including uses for emergency response, for public toilets, and in underserved communities lacking access to traditional sanitation solutions.
"The leadership of companies like LIXIL is vital to bringing new sanitation technologies to market at scale and increasing access to safe sanitation for all," said Doulaye Kone, Interim Director of the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Program at the Gates Foundation. "LIXIL's expertise in designing and delivering products to meet diverse community needs will help ensure that these technologies reach the people that need them most, leading to improved health, productivity, and gender equality."
See also
PV GAS launches Month of Workers
10:22 | 16/05/2024 Companies
PV Gas unions launch book donation program
14:00 | 06/05/2024 Companies
Singapore Management University launches representative office in Vietnam
00:23 | 30/04/2024 Companies
GROHE SPA unveils “Aquatecture” spaces at Milan Design Week
15:09 | 24/04/2024 Companies
PVN's Q1 revenue up 19 percent
14:00 | 22/04/2024 Companies
“Taste of Korea” with Korean food at MM Mega Market
18:20 | 07/04/2024 Companies
See more news
GreenYellow accompanies An Phuoc on the energy transition journey
16:21 | 27/03/2024 Companies
Hoan My Medical Group partners with Strasys to advance innovation
15:12 | 18/03/2024 Companies
Hoan My with a virtual run and free health checks for the community
14:20 | 14/03/2024 Companies
Sanofi launches global program to support employees affected by cancer and serious illnesses
14:00 | 29/02/2024 Companies
SCG announces FY2023 operating results
08:44 | 21/02/2024 Companies
Committed accelerator for energy transition
14:00 | 17/02/2024 Companies
Three key sustainability areas to drive supply chain
14:00 | 16/02/2024 Companies
PVOIL Hai Phong firm position in petroleum market
14:00 | 14/02/2024 Companies
GBA announces the newly elected Chairman and Board of Directors
11:02 | 05/02/2024 Companies
KMS Technology celebrates 15 years of establishment
16:07 | 24/01/2024 Companies
Hà Nội Metro announces profit from the Cát Linh–Hà Đông metro line
10:00 | 19/05/2024 Economy
Cement makers call for scraping of clinker export tax
09:00 | 19/05/2024 Economy
Tourism sector goes green for sustainable development
08:22 | 19/05/2024 Tourism
Digital transformation in logistics - a key to unlocking sustainable e-commerce and economic development
07:00 | 19/05/2024 Economy
First provincial biodiversity museum launched in Quảng Nam
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Environment
Multimedia
Việt Nam plans to preserve ethnic minorities’ intangible cultures at risk of disappearing
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Lifestyle
The Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival celebrated the city's special UNESCO status
16:49 | 13/05/2024 Lifestyle
HCM City: top spot in Việt Nam for slow travel lovers
09:00 | 13/05/2024 Tourism
The Anam Cam Ranh named among Vietnam’s best family hotels
06:00 | 11/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Nguyễn Dynasty Urns in Huế make it to the UNESCO Memory of the World List
07:00 | 11/05/2024 Lifestyle
Tax, land rent payment deadlines to be extended this year
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Policy
Ministry proposes tax filing deadline extension for 2024
06:00 | 17/05/2024 Policy
Viet Nam targets to have 2 million enterprises by 2030
07:00 | 15/05/2024 Policy
Law on Telecommunications hoped to promote development of new telecoms services
06:00 | 13/05/2024 Policy
Energy giants plan for national power plan
06:00 | 18/05/2024 Energy
Vietnam charts vision for sustainable, modern fisheries
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Industry
Vietnam should seize opportunity to join global semiconductor supply chain
08:00 | 15/05/2024 Industry
Việt Nam's wood industry strives to match sustainable wood demands
07:00 | 14/05/2024 Industry
Desk established in Dong Nai to support Japanese investors
09:02 | 16/05/2024 Investment
Vietnam should not miss opportunities to attract FDI
08:00 | 14/05/2024 FDI
New wave of Chinese investment
06:00 | 12/05/2024 FDI
Vietnam attractive destination for Dubai enterprises: Forum
09:04 | 11/05/2024 FDI
Banks raise interest rates to attract depositors
16:47 | 17/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Credit access obstacles lifted for collective economic entities
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Government urged to narrow domestic, global gold price gap
08:36 | 15/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Biometric verification ensures safer money transfers
17:23 | 13/05/2024 Finance-Banking
First provincial biodiversity museum launched in Quảng Nam
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Environment
Enhancing informal sector’s role in EPR implementation
06:00 | 18/05/2024 Environment
Centre opened to serve environmental data integration, monitoring network operation
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Environment
Capacity building for policy makers, large emitters on ETS and carbon market
08:48 | 15/05/2024 Environment
Semiconductor investment prioritized
06:29 | 17/05/2024 Science - Technology
Full cyber stream ahead Bắc Giang focuses on digital society development
06:00 | 11/05/2024 Science - Technology
35 localities piloting four-wheel EVs for tourists, despite no official legal regulations
07:00 | 09/05/2024 Science - Technology
2024 VinFuture Prize records 1,469 nominations
06:00 | 07/05/2024 Science - Technology
HCM City to complete 183km of metro routes by 2035
06:00 | 17/05/2024 Society
Railway sector gets creative to attract passengers
07:00 | 15/05/2024 Society
Việt Nam’s largest high-speed ship service from HCM City to Côn Đảo launched
07:00 | 14/05/2024 Society
Central Highlands to become renewable energy hub
08:58 | 13/05/2024 Society
Vietnamese agricultural products to take part in Foodservice Australia 2024
15:08 | 17/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
PV GAS launches Month of Workers
10:22 | 16/05/2024 Companies
National Brand Program promotes prestigious Vietnam
13:09 | 15/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Largest made-in-Vietnam bulk carrier launched
17:07 | 13/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Việt Nam plans to preserve ethnic minorities’ intangible cultures at risk of disappearing
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Lifestyle
The Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival celebrated the city's special UNESCO status
16:49 | 13/05/2024 Lifestyle
Nguyễn Dynasty Urns in Huế make it to the UNESCO Memory of the World List
07:00 | 11/05/2024 Lifestyle
European Literary Days focuses on gender
06:00 | 09/05/2024 Lifestyle
Tourism sector goes green for sustainable development
08:22 | 19/05/2024 Tourism
Vietnamese tourism information centre opened in India
08:00 | 18/05/2024 Tourism
Mysterious 'floating' lake discovered in Quảng Bình
16:54 | 13/05/2024 Tourism
HCM City: top spot in Việt Nam for slow travel lovers
09:00 | 13/05/2024 Tourism