The Beginning
The story of Cecilia, the founder of Bionova, is one of pursuing sustainable living and innovative solutions. After graduating from the University of Manchester in the UK, Cecilia, like many young people, began her career in environmental impact assessment. However, the heavy workload soon left her feeling exhausted, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. She decided to resign and seek a more meaningful life.
Cecilia rented several small cabins on a vast grassland and became a full-time Airbnb host. Here, she not only renovated the cabins by herself but also learned horseback riding, herding cattle, and even picked up some Kazakh language from her neighbors, allowing her to deeply experience the changing seasons of nature.
What Happend?
However, during her time managing the cabins, she faced a significant challenge: due to the remote location, accessing water for daily life was difficult, and wastewater management had been a long-standing issue for local herders.
Cecilia realized that traditional flush toilets, given the scarcity of resources, not only consumed large amounts of water but also produced odors and pollution, severely impacting the sanitation and health of the herders. In discussions with her herder friends, she wondered: Could there be a toilet that operates without water and chemicals, capable of directly breaking down waste without producing odors?
So why bio-toilet？
After conducting market research, Cecilia discovered that existing dry toilets mostly consisted of composting toilets and portable black water tanks, but these products did not fully meet the needs. Composting toilets required complicated urine separation, while portable toilets necessitated frequent cleaning and did not effectively tackle odor problems.
Thus, Cecilia decided to apply her knowledge of environmental microbiology from her university studies to create a new kind of waterless biological toilet. Her goal was to develop an eco-friendly and efficient solution that could improve the living conditions of the herders while promoting the ideals of sustainable development. The birth of Bionova reflects her steadfast belief in enhancing life quality and environmental protection.
What does Bionova stand for?
The name "Bionova" combines "bio," derived from the Greek word "bios," meaning "life," and "nova," which comes from Latin, meaning "new." Together, "Bionova" conveys the idea of a new life or a fresh approach to sustainable living, aligning perfectly with the concept of an eco-friendly compost toilet that operates without water. This name suggests innovation in environmental solutions, emphasizing a connection to nature and sustainability.