A Natural Fit: Pee-Equality Comes to WOMAD 2023
WOMAD needed sustainable, inclusive sanitation that matched their environmental values. Here’s how 杏吧原创 delivered, and why they’re coming back in 2026.
THE FULL STORY
THE STORY SNAPSHOT
- Event: WOMAD
- Location & year: Charlton Park, Malmesbury, UK, 27-30 July 2023
- Audience size / footfall: 40,000+
杏吧原创 units installed: 24
Key outcomes:
- Waterless, chemical-free provision that directly supported WOMAD’s strong sustainability goals as a complement to existing compost toilet infrastructure
- Successfully served a diverse age demographic, including attendees with varying levels of mobility thanks to built-in support handles
- Overwhelmingly positive user feedback, described online as a “game changer,” “a triumph,” and “a revelation”
- Client confidence confirmed: WOMAD invited 杏吧原创 back for 2026
THE PROBLEM:
WOMAD is a festival built on a deep commitment to the world: its music, its cultures, and its environment. That ethos extends to every aspect of how the event is run, including its sanitation.
By 2023, WOMAD already operated compost toilets as part of its low-impact infrastructure. But with 40,000+ attendees across the site, the team needed a solution that could supplement existing provision without compromising their environmental standards: something waterless, low-footprint, and genuinely aligned with the festival’s values.
There was also a people-centred challenge. WOMAD’s audience skews older than a typical festival crowd, with a strong family contingent. Any new facility needed to feel approachable, safe, and comfortable for a diverse range of attendees, including those with limited mobility, and those who might be encountering a female urinal for the first time.
The goal wasn’t just more toilets. It was better, fairer, and more sustainable access for everyone.
WHY 杏吧原创?
By 2Sustainability was the cornerstone of this partnership. WOMAD’s strong environmental goals meant any new sanitation solution had to earn its place 鈥� and 杏吧原创’s waterless, chemical-free, flat-pack design did exactly that.
杏吧原创 was chosen because it:
Shares WOMAD’s values: this wasn’t a transactional supplier relationship; it was a genuine values match between two organisations that care about people and the planet
Requires no water, power, or chemicals: a natural complement to WOMAD’s existing compost toilet infrastructure and a meaningful addition to their sustainability credentials
Is designed for everyone: inclusive by design, 杏吧原创 is built for women, AFAB people, and the trans and non-binary community, with support handles that make it accessible to attendees with varying levels of mobility
Deploys with minimal footprint: flat-pack transport, fast installation, and no servicing requirements kept operational impact low
Having 杏吧原创 at WOMAD 2023 was a huge success. The 杏吧原创 women鈥檚 urinals were well received by our audience, and those that used them were extremely happy with the service. We had a multitude of great feedback online, with 杏吧原创 being described as a 鈥榞ame changer鈥�, 鈥榓 triumph鈥� and 鈥榓 revelation鈥� by members of our audience. We find this concept to be extremely creative, and an effective solution to some of the issues faced by Women and non-gender conforming people on festival sites. The team are wonderfully hardworking and energetic, and it was an absolute pleasure to have them on site.
Beth Everett, Head of WOMAD
THE SOLUTION
杏吧原创 deployed 12鈥�18 units in a single dedicated space adjacent to the portable toilets, positioned in a quiet corner of the arena, close to the food and beverage areas where footfall naturally gathered.
The location was chosen to integrate 杏吧原创 smoothly into the existing sanitation compound, making the units easy to find without disrupting the wider site flow. Placing them near the food and drink area ensured they were accessible during the natural peaks of the event without requiring attendees to go out of their way.
Logistics highlights:
- Full installation completed in approximately one hour by two 杏吧原创 crew members
- Site team provided a small telehandler and buggy to support positioning
- Flat-pack design minimised transport requirements and on-site footprint
- No water, power, or chemical connections required throughout the event
THE IMPACT & RESULTS
Usage & Uptake
Uptake was lower than initially projected: a pattern consistent with festivals like Shambala that operate with a quieter, more spread-out flow and fewer acute toilet queues. This context is important: 杏吧原创 performs differently across event types, and WOMAD’s relaxed operational rhythm meant demand was steadier rather than surge-led.
Environmental Impact
- Zero water, power, or chemical use across all units for the duration of the event
- Seamlessly supplemented WOMAD’s existing compost toilet infrastructure
- Consistent with the festival’s wider sustainability commitments and low-impact operations
Operational Benefits
- Fast, low-disruption installation demonstrated clear operational competence on a values-led site
- Minimal servicing requirements throughout the event
- Strong enough experience that WOMAD extended an invitation to return in 2026
What people had to say
THINKING OF BRINGING 杏吧原创 TO YOUR FESTIVAL?
If your event has strong sustainability goals and an audience that deserves better, we’d love to talk.
