Container Based Sanitation Alliance
CBSA is a global non-profit alliance founded in 2016 that promotes container-based sanitation as a safe, climate-smart solution for low-income urban communities, supporting 15+ member organizations serving 270,000+ people across 15 countries with advocacy, research, and digital tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNot specified
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Container Based Sanitation Alliance does
The Container Based Sanitation Alliance (CBSA) is a global non-profit alliance founded in November 2016 and registered as a charity in England and Wales in 2019 (Charity number 1185842), headquartered in London with 5 employees. Its core purpose is to promote container-based sanitation (CBS) as a full-chain, safely managed sanitation service for the 700+ million urban dwellers globally who lack access to adequate sanitation and for whom conventional sewerage is infeasible. CBS involves toilets with sealable, removable containers that are frequently collected, transported, and treated — often with urine diversion — yielding reusable by-products (compost, biogas, biochar) and 79–93% lower greenhouse gas emissions than baseline sanitation alternatives.
The alliance operates as a coalition of CBS practitioners rather than a service delivery company. Its suite of products and resources includes the VeriSan customer and operations management platform, a GHG Emissions Calculator, the CBS Implementation Guide, Cape Town municipal CBS Guidelines, carbon credits resources, and annual State of the Sector reports. CBSA does not charge end customers; its operating budget is funded by institutional grants and foundations (Stone Family Foundation, GSMA, BMGF, WSSCC, IDB Lab, Green Climate Fund). Its 15 member and affiliate organizations generate end-user revenue through household subscriptions ($3.21–$12.00/month), sale of reuse by-products, carbon credits, results-based financing (notably the IDB Lab Outcomes for Change Fund contract with SOIL in Haiti), and increasingly public-sector contracts (DINEPA in Haiti, EPSAS in Bolivia, City of Cape Town, Manila).
Container Based Sanitation Alliance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Container Based Sanitation Alliance
- Legal name
- Container Based Sanitation Alliance
- Website
- https://cbsa.global
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CBSA is a global non-profit alliance founded in 2016 that promotes container-based sanitation as a safe, climate-smart solution for low-income urban communities, supporting 15+ member organizations serving 270,000+ people across 15 countries with advocacy, research, and digital tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Container Based Sanitation Alliance industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Public Health (Food Safety, Water Quality, Sanitation) (BPAIAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Health Governance, Interagency Coordination & Partnerships (HLAJAMAD), Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform (BPADAEAD)
Keywords
Where Container Based Sanitation Alliance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Not specified
Offices1 record
Markets served
Container Based Sanitation Alliance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Member Organization Service Fees: CBS providers (members and affiliates) generate revenue from customer service fees charged to households, typically subscription-based. Fees reported range from $3.21 to $12.00 per household per month (1.2–2.5% of household income). Revenue also comes from sale of reuse by-products (compost, protein/animal feed, biogas fuels, biochar) and carbon credits.
- Sale of Reuse Products: CBS providers sell waste treatment by-products including compost, protein (for animal feed), biogas fuels, biochar, and briquettes. These represent valuable revenue streams alongside customer fees. CBS waste produces higher quality reuse products because it has not been mixed with greywater or stored in a pit for extended periods.
- Carbon Credits: Carbon finance is an emerging supplementary revenue stream. Sanergy (Fresh Life) earned the first carbon credits for CBS. SOIL uses direct-sale approach selling verified climate impacts to buyers outside formal markets. CBSA's feasibility study found CBS services eliminate 79–93% of baseline emissions.
- Results-Based Financing: SOIL announced its first results-based financing (RBF) contract with IDB Lab's Outcomes for Change Fund in Haiti — the first large-scale Outcomes Fund implemented in a fragile country context and small island developing state. RBF ties funding provision to achievement of desired outcomes.
- Public and Government Contracts: CBS providers increasingly seek government-backed contracts which guarantee service providers revenue and reduce risk. CBSA actively works to unlock public contracts for CBS services and promote public-private partnership models.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Household subscription fees across member operators |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Container Based Sanitation Alliance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Container Based Sanitation Alliance (CBSA) is a global non-profit alliance that promotes container-based sanitation (CBS) as a full-chain, safely managed sanitation service for low-income urban communities. CBSA develops and disseminates practical tools, implementation guides, research and policy advocacy to help CBS providers, utilities and governments deliver, finance, regulate and scale container-based sanitation. Its core membership coalition of 15 social enterprises, NGOs and utilities collectively serves more than 270,000 people.
Product overview
The Container Based Sanitation Alliance (CBSA) is a global alliance that promotes container-based sanitation (CBS) as an essential approach for delivering safely managed sanitation in low-income urban communities. CBSA operates as a coalition/promotional organization rather than a product company, offering a suite of tools, resources, and platforms to support CBS providers. Key offerings include the VeriSan customer and operations management platform and mobile app, the GHG Emissions Calculator for estimating climate benefits, the CBS Implementation Guide for practitioners, carbon credits resources, cost effectiveness analysis, Sanitation Safety Planning support, Cape Town CBS Guidelines, and periodic State of the Sector reports. These tools and resources work together to help CBS providers deliver efficient services, measure impact, access climate finance, and scale their operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- CBS services found to be lowest-cost form of safely managed sanitation (EY research)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Container Based Sanitation Alliance
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Container Based Sanitation Alliance technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Container Based Sanitation Alliance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
36 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Ukukhululeka / Liquid Gold (South Africa)minorUkukhululeka ('be free') is Liquid Gold's CBS brand launched in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Liquid Gold pioneered urine collections and has expanded to collect faecal waste, urine, and kitchen waste from ~100 in-home toilets, producing black soldier fly larvae and struvite. Joined as affiliate member in December 2024.
- SEAS (Sanitation Empowerment & Agricultural Support, Uganda)minorBased in Kampala, Uganda. Services around 120 non-diverting in-home toilets to produce compost. Toilets are sold to customers, and collectors are paid from sale of compost. Joined as affiliate member in December 2024.
- Dioloto (Madagascar)minorCBS pilot of initially 20 households with urine-diverting toilets manufactured locally. An initiative of Tatirano in Madagascar, a social enterprise developing water services near Fort Dauphin. Joined as affiliate member in December 2024.
- Circular Revolution (UK)minorUK for-profit transitioning to a co-operative model, led by Eve McKinnon. Serves 65 urine-diverting toilets in and around London for customers living on river boats. Joined as affiliate member in September 2023.
- Institut de Coopération Internationale (ICI, France)minorFrench NGO led by director Hervé Dubois and president François Girin. Services around 100 toilets in Mali and 250 toilets in Benin, all composting toilets (TAC). Composts collected excreta with municipal agreements. Joined as affiliate member in September 2023.
- ECOlaTRINE (South Africa)minorSouth African company led by Henriëtte Vermaak, developing a waterless toilet service and trialling a sawdust dispensing mechanism, producing and selling compost. Joined as affiliate member in September 2023.
- Climate Resilient Sanitation CoalitioncoreCoalition including CBSA, UNICEF, Water4, and others calling for sanitation to be included in climate frameworks. Successfully advocated for explicit mention of climate-resilient sanitation in the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) water thematic target at COP28.
- Water Initiative for Net Zero (WINZ)corePartnership of sanitation organizations calling for climate action. Co-authored pieces with CBSA on methane emissions from sanitation ahead of the Global Methane Forum (March 2024).
- UN-HabitatcoreCBSA welcomed UN-Habitat's Global Report on Sanitation and Wastewater Management, which features CBS innovations heavily throughout and calls for sanitation integration into wider urban development. Executive Director Rémi Kaupp endorsed the report's recommendations.
- Global Water Intelligence (GWI)minorGWI investigated the future of safely managed sanitation in their magazine, highlighting CBS as an effective, low-cost, integrated solution. CBSA member SOIL partnered with GWI for this coverage, demonstrating CBS's role in climate-resilient sanitation.
- Cranfield University (UK)minorCBSA collaborated with Cranfield University on research combining interviews with CBS providers and comparative data to study CBS resilience during floods, storms, or protests — showing how CBS can keep working under pressure.
- University of Technology SydneyminorResearchers at UTS developed the 'sustainable cost recovery' framework for urban sanitation financing. CBSA endorsed this framework as a way to bring clarity to sanitation financing discussions and promote equitable, sustainable sanitation services.
- Innovation for Good by Kohler (USA)minorKohler in-house startup commercializing business opportunities with social purpose. Developed a CBS toilet called Loope. Joined as affiliate member in July 2024, bringing total membership to 15.
- Sanitation Ambassadors (South Africa)minorSouth Africa-based non-profit company that developed hygienic sanitation solutions for schools. Provides WASH centres — flat pack units with three Swedish-designed hybrid urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDT) made from re-used non-recyclable plastic. Joined as affiliate member in August 2022.
- South Pole (Carbon Finance Consultancy)coreCBSA worked with South Pole on a feasibility study to understand whether carbon credits could become a viable income stream for sanitation providers. The study found carbon credits can generate revenue for actively managed sanitation but obstacles hinder full potential.
- Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)coreSWA organized the 2025 Sector Ministers Meeting in Madrid. CBSA Executive Director Rémi Kaupp participated, engaging government, civil society, and private sector leaders on integration and resilience in sanitation.
- Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)coreWSUP co-convened sessions with CBSA at World Water Week 2022 on public-private partnerships for citywide inclusive sanitation. WSUP and CBSA co-hosted 'Flush with Success' roundtable on social enterprise scaling. WSUP conducted customer satisfaction evaluation for Clean Team.
- Aquaya InstituteminorAquaya co-convened CBSA session at World Water Week 2022 on public-private partnerships to achieve citywide inclusive sanitation.
- WSSCC (Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council)coreSupported CBSA members SOIL and x-runner to attend LatinoSan in Costa Rica. Provided funding for CBSA engagement and presentations. Supported CBSA chair Kory Russel's presentation at World Water Week at Home (2020).
- GreenCape (South Africa)minorCBSA worked with GreenCape and the City of Cape Town to develop new CBS guidelines and best practices for municipal sanitation services in South Africa.
- World Bank Water Global PracticecoreWorld Bank published the study 'Evaluating the Potential for Container-Based Sanitation' as part of CWIS tools. The study assessed CBS approaches, concluding CBS should be considered part of citywide inclusive sanitation options. Built on four CBSA member case studies.
- WHO (World Health Organization)coreWHO's revised Guidelines on Sanitation and Health (2018) include CBS as part of the portfolio of options for full-chain safely managed sanitation. CBSA members conducted WHO Sanitation Safety Planning with local government partners. CBS included in Fact Sheet 8 on urine-diverting dry toilet and CBS.
- UNICEF / WHO Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP)coreJMP formally recognized CBS as a type of improved sanitation in its 2018 update, endorsing it as a safely managed sanitation service under the SDGs. This was a landmark achievement providing legitimacy at the highest level.
- EY (Ernst & Young) Enterprise Growth ServicescoreEY conducted comparative analysis of CBS providers (commissioned by SOIL, WSUP, and x-runner) providing key insights on cost drivers and paths to financial sustainability. EY research revealed CBS as the lowest-cost form of safely managed sanitation.
- Toilet Board CoalitionminorThe Toilet Board Coalition interviewed CBSA Chair Kory Russel on the CBS model, impact of COVID-19, and the future of the alliance as part of its YouTube series on business solutions for the sanitation economy.
- Sanergy (Kenya)coreFounder member of CBSA. Sanergy provides CBS services in Nairobi, Kenya, and was one of four case studies in the World Bank's 2019 CBS evaluation. Sanergy earned the first carbon credits for container-based sanitation through its Fresh Life brand and treatment operations.
- SOIL (Haiti)coreFounder member of CBSA. Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) provides CBS in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. SOIL's thermophilic composting method reduces GHG emissions by 124kg CO2 equivalents per person per year. SOIL pioneered direct-sale carbon credit approach and secured the first results-based financing contract with IDB Lab's Outcomes for Change Fund.
- Loowatt (Madagascar)coreFounder member of CBSA. Loowatt provides CBS services in Madagascar using polymer film technology. Featured in UN-Habitat report for digital payment and SMS scheduling capabilities. Virginia Gardiner is Founder and CEO.
- Clean Team (Ghana)coreFounder member of CBSA. Clean Team provides CBS services in Kumasi, Ghana. EY analysis found Clean Team achieved positive gross margins, a significant step toward self-sufficiency. WSUP evaluation found high customer satisfaction, particularly among female customers.
- Sanivation (Kenya)coreFounder member of CBSA. Sanivation provides CBS services in Kenya. One of four case studies in World Bank's 2019 CBS evaluation. Accepted both CBS and pit latrine waste at its treatment plants, integrating organic solid waste into its treatment process.
- x-runner (Peru)coreFounder member of CBSA. x-runner provides CBS services in Lima, Peru. Presented case studies at LatinoSan in Costa Rica alongside Haitian government colleagues on innovative financing and Shit Flow Diagrams.
- Aguatuya (Bolivia)coreNon-profit organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to water and sanitation problems for peri-urban areas in Bolivia. Joined as affiliate member by July 2024. Worked with utility EPSAS on CBS service in El Alto, designing and procuring CBS collection trucks and a pilot urine treatment plant.
- ASSAUVET (France)minorFrench organization listed as a member. Specific services and details not provided in available source material.
- Dignite International (not specified)minorListed as a member organization. Specific details not provided in available source material.
- Mosan (Switzerland)minorListed as a member organization. Swiss-based CBS provider. Specific details not provided in available source material.
- Sanima (Peru)minorListed as a member organization. Peruvian CBS provider. Specific details not provided in available source material.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Container Based Sanitation Alliance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Loowatt: Loowatt is a CBSA founder member operating CBS services in Madagascar using polymer film container technology. As a CBS pioneer featured in UN-Habitat reporting, it is directly comparable as a member of CBSA's core constituency and a sector exemplar.
- iDE (International Development Enterprises): iDE is a non-profit social enterprise that develops market-based approaches for sanitation and water access in low-income markets. Like CBSA, it works on enabling environments, sanitation market development, and household-level service delivery—making it a comparable sector peer.
- Sanergy: Sanergy is a Kenya-based CBS provider and CBSA founder member operating the Fresh Life brand. It pioneered carbon credit certification for CBS and is one of four case studies in the World Bank's 2019 CBS evaluation—making it a direct operational and sector peer to CBSA's member network.
- Toilet Board Coalition: The Toilet Board Coalition is a business-led alliance accelerating the sanitation economy through partnerships with large corporates, NGOs, and governments. It is structurally analogous to CBSA as a sanitation-focused coalition/convener, and has directly featured CBSA leadership in its content and events.
- Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP): WSUP is a UK-based non-profit focused on improving water and sanitation services for low-income urban communities. WSUP directly partners with CBSA on public-private partnership convenings and has co-funded CBS research (Clean Team customer satisfaction evaluation), making it a highly comparable mission-aligned peer.
- SOIL (Haiti): SOIL is a CBSA founder member operating container-based sanitation services in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. SOIL pioneered the direct-sale carbon credit approach for CBS and secured the first results-based financing contract with IDB Lab's Outcomes for Change Fund—making it a flagship operational peer for CBSA.
Broad incumbents
- WaterAid: WaterAid is a major international NGO focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene, and is the prior employer of CBSA's Executive Director Rémi Kaupp. It operates across WASH more broadly than CBSA's CBS-specific focus, making it an established peer in adjacent WASH advocacy and policy engagement.
- IRC WASH (International Rescue Committee): IRC is a major humanitarian organization with a substantial WASH programming footprint in fragile contexts, comparable to CBSA members' work in Haiti and similar geographies. It is a larger established player operating WASH more broadly than CBSA's CBS-specialist focus.
- UNICEF WASH: UNICEF leads global WASH programming and co-manages the JMP with WHO, the body that formally recognized CBS as improved sanitation. As a co-convener of the Climate Resilient Sanitation Coalition with CBSA, UNICEF is a major institutional peer in the same advocacy and policy ecosystem.
Others
- GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities: GSMA's Mobile for Development Utilities programme funded the development of CBSA's VeriSan platform. As a sector-adjacent enabling platform funder and partner, GSMA is comparable as a programmatic supporter of digital tools for utility-scale sanitation service delivery.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Container Based Sanitation Alliance social profiles
Digital presenceContainer Based Sanitation Alliance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Container Based Sanitation Alliance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Container Based Sanitation Alliance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Container Based Sanitation Alliance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Container Based Sanitation Alliance
What does Container Based Sanitation Alliance do?
The Container Based Sanitation Alliance (CBSA) is a global non-profit alliance that promotes container-based sanitation (CBS) as a full-chain, safely managed sanitation service for low-income urban communities. CBSA develops and disseminates practical tools, implementation guides, research and policy advocacy to help CBS providers, utilities and governments deliver, finance, regulate and scale container-based sanitation. Its core membership coalition of 15 social enterprises, NGOs and utilities collectively serves more than 270,000 people.
Is Container Based Sanitation Alliance a public or private company?
Container Based Sanitation Alliance is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Container Based Sanitation Alliance founded?
Container Based Sanitation Alliance was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Container Based Sanitation Alliance based?
Container Based Sanitation Alliance is headquartered in Not specified.
How does Container Based Sanitation Alliance make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Member Organization Service Fees are the primary driver. The others are sale of Reuse Products, carbon Credits, results-Based Financing and public and Government Contracts.
Who are Container Based Sanitation Alliance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Loowatt, iDE (International Development Enterprises), Sanergy, Toilet Board Coalition, Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) and SOIL (Haiti). Broad incumbents are WaterAid, IRC WASH (International Rescue Committee) and UNICEF WASH. GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities is listed as an others.
Does Container Based Sanitation Alliance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Container Based Sanitation Alliance.
What industry is Container Based Sanitation Alliance in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAJAE, Environmental Public Health (Food Safety, Water Quality, Sanitation), with a secondary code of HLAJAMAD, Public Health Governance, Interagency Coordination & Partnerships. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.