Exeter Science Park-based Smarti Environmental, which has developed a waterless urinal technology, has secured a number of new business wins – including the installation of its product at Aston Villa’s Villa Park stadium and training ground.
The company, which has its headquarters at Exeter Science Park, developed the patented technology in partnership with the University of Exeter. Its system works by fitting a recyclable waterless valve containing an eco-friendly bio-block enzyme ring, which dissolves over time, to the existing system.
In addition to saving water and CO2, the Smarti Environmental system has been developed to make urine PH neutral. Paired with an enzyme spray that eats odours and bacteria, Smarti Environmental’s solution dramatically reduces the energy required to process urine in sewerage treatment, further reducing the environmental impact of urinals. It also reduces infectious airborne bacteria and germs by 98% spread during urinal flushing (ending the dangerous aerosol effect).
Smarti Environmental says its zero water technology can save more than 100,000 litres per urinal a year and put an end to unnecessary wastage of the most vital of resources, which is coming under increasing pressure.
In the last month it has converted more than 200 urinals to waterless technology at Aston Villa’s stadium and training ground through the delivery of the first phase of its contract. It is anticipated this will reduce the Premier League club’s urinal water costs by 50%.
It has also secured a contract with National Express to install its eco-friendly tech into 30 bus depots across the UK, having already converted urinals at the company’s head office and bus depot in Digbeth.
Smarti Environmental is increasingly widely used in the NHS, with its technology being rolled out in seven NHS Trusts.
In addition, it has recently fitted water meters to urinals at Exeter Science Park to establish exact usage prior to conversion and is undertaking trials with a national sports stadium, a major national pub chain and a newspaper company.
Matt Roach, head of operations at Exeter Science Park, said: “This is an exciting time for Smarti Environmental, these are significant contract wins and we’re delighted to play a part, alongside the University of Exeter, in the development of such environmentally impactful technology.”
Martin Richards, chief technical officer at Smarti Environmental, said: “We have worked with the University of Exeter to develop our technology and already made great strides as we install it across the UK, Ireland and beyond. We’re delighted to have secured these recent contracts and to be trialling our system at some other very significant businesses.”
