Vuna
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersDübendorf, Zurich, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Vuna firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vuna
- Legal name
- Vuna GmbH
- Website
- https://vuna.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vuna industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Decentralized Wastewater and Sanitation Systems
- NAICS
- Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)
- SIC
- Sanitary Services (4950), Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote) (EUANADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Potable Water Treatment & Conditioning (Filtration, Disinfection, Corrosion Control) (EUANAAAC), Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia/Urea/UAN) (IMAEAEAA)
Keywords
Where Vuna is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dübendorf, Zurich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Vuna business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Planning and Construction Services: Custom design and installation of decentralized wastewater systems, drinking water treatment systems, and circular sanitation solutions for individual projects. Includes on-site assessment, solution planning, construction support, and commissioning.
- Product Sales (E-commerce): Direct sales of standardized products through online store including Aurin recycled fertilizer, dry toilets, drinking water filters, biochar, accessories, and spare parts. Ships to Switzerland and EU.
- Aurin Fertilizer Sales: Sales of Aurin recycled urine fertilizer in various sizes (500mL to 20L). The first urine fertilizer worldwide with official approval from Swiss authorities. Also sold through third-party retail partners.
- Wastewater Sample Analysis: Laboratory services for wastewater sample analysis of small treatment plants (KLARA/pSTEP certification).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Aurin Fertilizer 500mL |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Aurin Fertilizer 5L |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Aurin Fertilizer 10L |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Aurin Fertilizer 20L |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Initial On-Site Assessment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pentair LineGuard UF-100 (Membrane Ultrafiltration) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Phytotiny Grey Water Filter |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sanitation Garden Aquatiris |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sanisphere SANIKIT IN |
| Subscription | Annual | VaLoo Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Biopot Donation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Vuna product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vuna plans, builds, and sells decentralized wastewater treatment systems (worm/substrate filters, planted filters, percolating filters) and drinking water treatment systems for locations without municipal sewage connection, ranging from mountain huts and tiny houses to urban developments. The company also develops and sells urine recycling technology (VunaNexus process) that produces Aurin, the world's first officially approved urine-based fertilizer, and operates a certified laboratory for wastewater sample analyses.
Product overview
Vuna is a Swiss water and sanitation technology company founded in 2016 as an EAWAG spin-off that develops decentralized wastewater systems and circular sanitation solutions. The company's portfolio centers on three proprietary products—Aurin (world's first officially approved urine-based recycled fertilizer), Phytotiny (compact grey water plant filter), and Biopot (biochar-based water treatment system)—alongside engineered systems for total wastewater treatment, grey water recycling, and drinking water treatment. The product line includes physical products they manufacture or resell (dry toilets, urine separation components like Peepot, filtration systems including Pentair products, biochar, Sanisphère components) as well as services such as wastewater sample analyses (KLARA-certified laboratory), initial on-site assessments, and fecal composting. VunaNexus is the underlying technology process for urine-to-fertilizer conversion, while the VaLoo network represents their advocacy platform for circular sanitation in Switzerland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Aurin: World's first officially approved urine-based recycling fertilizer, developed using the VunaNexus process. Concentrated universal fertilizer containing nutrients from human urine without pharmaceutical residues, hormones, or heavy metals.
- VunaNexus
Products and services
- Aurin Recycled Fertilizer World's first officially approved urine-based recycled fertilizer, sold in 500mL to 20L sizes, for home gardeners, urban farmers, and plant enthusiasts seeking a sustainable, chemical-free fertilizer containing nutrients from human urine without pharmaceutical residues, hormones, or heavy metals.
- Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems Custom design, planning, and construction of decentralized wastewater treatment systems (total wastewater treatment, grey water recycling, rainwater utilization) using worm/substrate filters, planted filters, and percolating filters for remote vacation homes, tiny houses, mountain huts, and urban new developments without access to municipal sewage.
- Drinking Water Treatment Systems Custom design and installation of drinking water treatment systems (including membrane ultrafiltration) to convert water from streams, glaciers, snowfields, springs, or rainwater into drinking water quality for off-grid properties and remote locations.
- Phytotiny Grey Water Filter Compact plant-based grey water filter system for treating greywater in small-scale applications, demonstrated in Magglingen as part of the Phytotiny project.
- Biopot Water Treatment System Biochar-based water treatment system that uses biochar to naturally purify domestic wastewater; spent biochar is then applied as soil improver. Developed for sustainable water treatment projects including humanitarian deployments in Ukraine.
- Peepot Urine Separation Component Urine drainage and separation module for self-built composting toilets, produced in Eberswalde, Germany.
- Dry Toilets and Accessories Separation toilets, Sanisphère dry toilet systems, urine diverting toilets, and related accessories for off-grid sanitation applications.
- Pentair LineGuard UF-100 Membrane Ultrafiltration System Membrane ultrafiltration system for drinking water treatment with flow rate of 60 L/min at 2 bar and total capacity of 5,000 m3. Ships within Switzerland.
- Biochar Products Swiss-produced biochar available in 0.8L and 1.2m3 Big Bag formats, sold as a complement to Aurin for plant substrates; functions as a sponge to store water and nutrients.
- Sanitation Garden Aquatiris Plant-based sanitation system for wastewater treatment and recycling, supplied through partnership with French partner Aquatiris.
- Wastewater Sample Analyses (KLARA) Approved laboratory service for sample analyses of small wastewater treatment plants (KLARA/pSTEP certification) for regulatory compliance.
- Initial On-Site Assessment Site assessment service for properties not connected to sewage systems or seeking alternative sanitation solutions; includes site visit, solution proposal, rough cost estimate, and traveling expenses within Switzerland. Priced at CHF 1,500 flat rate including VAT.
- VaLoo Membership Annual membership in the VaLoo network for circular sanitation systems in Switzerland, supporting sanitation and nutrient transition initiatives. Priced at CHF 100/year.
Quantifiable outcome
- 150+ projects completed in 8 countries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Vuna
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vuna technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Vuna partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- EAWAG (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)coreParent research institution from which Vuna was spun off in 2016. Ongoing research partnership and source of technical expertise in water treatment and sanitation technologies.
- Empa NESTcorePartnership with Empa's NEST research building for sustainable water treatment solutions in innovative building technologies.
- Stadt Zürich (City of Zurich)majorPartnership with Zurich city's environmental services for circular sanitation initiatives and sustainable urban water management.
- Schweizer Alpen-Club SACcoreLong-term partnership for providing wastewater treatment for SAC mountain huts including Martinsmadhütte, Lidernenhütte, and Chamanna Cluozza. Multiple project engagements.
- VaLoocoreVaLoo is a network for circular sanitation systems in Switzerland. Vuna is a founding member, promoting and implementing circular sanitation practices.
- VunaNexuscoreSister company that developed the VunaNexus process for converting urine into fertilizer. VunaNexus licenses the technology to produce Aurin fertilizer.
- Verein Kleinwohnformen Schweiz (Swiss Tiny House Association)minorPartnership for promoting alternative sanitation solutions for tiny houses and small living spaces in Switzerland.
- European Space AgencyminorPartnership for water treatment technologies potentially applicable to space missions or extreme environments.
- FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz)minorPartnership with Swiss university of applied sciences for research and education in sustainable technologies.
- Ecovillage HannoverminorPartnership with German ecovillage for implementing circular sanitation systems in sustainable community development.
- BluefactoryminorPartnership with Swiss innovation campus in Fribourg for sustainable building and circular economy initiatives.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Vuna competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kingspan Environmental: Provider of packaged and decentralized wastewater treatment solutions including the BioDisc and Klargester ranges. Directly comparable to Vuna's decentralized wastewater offerings for off-grid and remote applications, with established European distribution and municipal contracts.
- Aquatiris: French company specializing in plant-based sanitation and constructed wetland wastewater treatment systems (Sanitation Garden, Klargarten). Directly comparable to Vuna's planted filter and Phytotiny products and is also a Vuna partner/supplier for planted filter technologies.
- Ecodomeo: French decentralized sanitation company offering dry toilets and circular sanitation solutions. Directly comparable to Vuna's off-grid sanitation portfolio and is also a Vuna technology partner for complementary sanitation systems.
- Premier Tech Water and Environment: Global manufacturer of decentralized wastewater treatment systems including Ecoflo biofiltration and packaged treatment plants. Directly comparable to Vuna's decentralized wastewater portfolio but with broader product range and larger scale across residential and commercial markets.
- WPL Limited: UK-based manufacturer of packaged and containerized wastewater treatment plants for off-grid, commercial, and small community applications. Directly comparable to Vuna's decentralized treatment portfolio for remote properties and small-scale deployments.
- Toopi Organics: French-Belgian startup that converts human urine into agricultural biostimulants and fertilizers. Directly comparable to Vuna's Aurin product and VunaNexus process, targeting the same circular nutrient-recovery category with regulatory-driven market entry across the EU.
- ClearFox (PPTechnologies): German manufacturer of containerized and packaged biological wastewater treatment systems for off-grid, industrial, and municipal use. Directly comparable to Vuna's decentralized treatment model with similar focus on small-scale, easy-to-deploy systems across Europe.
- Sanisphere: French manufacturer of dry toilets and faeces drying systems including the SANIKIT IN. Directly comparable to Vuna's dry toilet product line and is also a Vuna technology partner with products sold through the Vuna store.
Broad incumbents
- Veolia Water Technologies: Global water and wastewater treatment incumbent operating across municipal and industrial segments with extensive R&D in resource recovery and decentralized systems. Comparable as a broad incumbent that could enter or expand in the circular sanitation and nutrient recovery space where Vuna operates.
Emerging players
- Rich Earth Institute: US-based non-profit advancing urine-diverting toilets and recycled urine fertilizer research and field deployment. Comparable as an emerging player in the urine-to-fertilizer category alongside Aurin, focused on research-driven adoption rather than commercial scale.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vuna social profiles
Digital presenceVuna financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vuna leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Vuna funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vuna 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 Vuna
What does Vuna do?
Vuna plans, builds, and sells decentralized wastewater treatment systems (worm/substrate filters, planted filters, percolating filters) and drinking water treatment systems for locations without municipal sewage connection, ranging from mountain huts and tiny houses to urban developments. The company also develops and sells urine recycling technology (VunaNexus process) that produces Aurin, the world's first officially approved urine-based fertilizer, and operates a certified laboratory for wastewater sample analyses.
Is Vuna a public or private company?
Vuna is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vuna founded?
Vuna was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Vuna based?
Vuna is headquartered in Dübendorf, Zurich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Vuna make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Planning and Construction Services are the primary driver. The others are product Sales (E-commerce), aurin Fertilizer Sales and wastewater Sample Analysis.
Who are Vuna's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kingspan Environmental, Aquatiris, Ecodomeo, Premier Tech Water and Environment, WPL Limited, Toopi Organics, ClearFox (PPTechnologies) and Sanisphere. Veolia Water Technologies is listed as a broad incumbent. Rich Earth Institute is listed as an emerging player.
Does Vuna have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vuna.
What industry is Vuna in?
Vuna's product category is Decentralized Wastewater and Sanitation Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANADAE, Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote), with a secondary code of EUANAAAC, Potable Water Treatment & Conditioning (Filtration, Disinfection, Corrosion Control). Its NAICS code is 221320 and its SIC code is 4950.