By Rashedul Sarker, Leader-Bangladesh, SATO
In the heart of Durgapur, a remote village in Bangladesh, a quiet revolution has unfolded over the past decade, improving lives and setting the benchmark for long-term sanitation solutions. 11 years after introducing SATO’s products to the community, we went back to answer one of the most frequently asked questions about SATO: how durable are our products?
It was in this village in 2012 that we tested our first prototypes of the SATO pan, a product designed to empower consumers to improve their quality of life through safe and effective sanitation. We engaged local people in rural areas to find out how the sanitation solutions could serve their needs, wants, and resolve their pains. In partnership with our partners, such as UNICEF, RFL, and iDE Bangladesh, we designed, prototyped, tested and subsequently rolled out the SATO Pan.
Over a decade later, seeing the enduring legacy of this product has been a powerful reminder of how important market-based solutions are to the global sanitation crisis, and how products built for these communities must be affordable, inspiring consumers to take control of their hygiene and sanitation over the long term.
Currently, the SATO Pans installed 11 years ago in Durgapur that are still in use are in full working order. This is a testament to the exceptional durability of the SATO Pan and how it was designed with decades of use in mind. We are confident that under normal use these products will still be fully functional for decades to come. There is no reason why affordable sanitation cannot also be durable and long-lasting.
The principal of the local school in Durgapur, Md. Masud Rana Prang, has seen first-hand the difference the SATO Pans have made to his community. In fact, he was there in 2012 when SATO was researching the needs of communities like his and gave us his perspective on how we could produce a solution that would benefit communities like his around the world.
Today, he remembers that before the SATO Pans were installed, people either defecated openly or had broken toilets that released bad smells and increased the spread of diseases. Md. Masud Rana reflected that the surrounding environment was “badly affected” by improper and “broken” sanitation systems. Toilets in the community were unfit for purpose and couldn’t handle the number of people using them, especially as schools and colleges were growing and visitor numbers to the villages were increasing. Md. Masud Rana knew that the solution needed to be easy to use, affordable, water-saving, and long-lasting.
To address these issues, we ensured our products could last a lifetime because we understand that temporary solutions only solve short-term problems and don’t allow consumers to enjoy the long-lasting value that comes with improved sanitation and hygiene. As Md. Masud Rana explained to us, longevity is paramount to consumers who can’t afford replacements every year. The original SATO pan was subjected to 900,000 hinge operations and was tested for heat resistance up to 50 degrees Celsius – simulating over a century of use for an average household in any climate.* This means when someone chooses SATO, they’re not only improving their quality of life today; they’re making a commitment to their families and communities for generations. We learned this doesn’t just make the product affordable, it means the SATO Pan is an enduring part of the transformation of a community’s sanitation culture.
It is difficult for most people fortunate enough to have access to safe sanitation to imagine the effect that toilets like this can have on a community. Md. Masud Rana told us that since he started championing the SATO Pan to his community and the first products were installed in 2012, he has seen “improvement in our surrounding environment, air quality, and reduced medical costs” due to healthier, more hygienic lifestyles. The last 11 years in Durgapur have shown us that something as simple as a toilet can transform the lives of whole families.
Following its success, consumer interest in the SATO Pan also spread from Durgapur to new sanitation markets. Md. Masud Rana, along with Sajia Mridha, raised awareness outside the village and promoted the SATO Pan to local latrine producers, who now use them in their concrete ring toilets. These wider markets become part of a whole sanitation ecosystem that not only serves the needs of local consumers, but also provides employment to local salespeople and masons.
Hearing Md. Masud Rana’s story, it’s clear that SATO pans have become more than just sanitation solutions; they symbolise a broader commitment to improving quality of life. The feedback from prototyping and the subsequent adoption of SATO products in 2012 was a pivotal moment for Durgapur, driven by a shared vision for a healthier community. The benefits have been far-reaching and the principal’s pride in this progress is a poignant reminder of the impact that innovative market-based solutions can have on communities.
The importance of sustainability in hygiene and sanitation solutions cannot be overstated. For communities like this one, where resources are scarce, the reliability of SATO products over the long term means not just financial savings, but improvements in public health and well-being. The principal’s recommendation of SATO to other schools and communities is a powerful endorsement of our mission: empowering people to live better lives, every day.
Reflecting on this journey, it’s clear that the legacy of SATO Pans extends beyond their physical longevity. They have become enduring symbols of a community’s aspiration for better hygiene and sanitation. As we look to the future, the lessons learned here will continue to inspire our work, ensuring that SATO remains at the forefront of providing innovative, sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing sanitation challenges.
