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‘Get your squat on’: Bristol start-up launches women’s urinal at Glastonbury 2022
A Bristol-based ‘squat-and-go’ women’s urinal has managed to bag a prime position at this year’s Glastonbury festival.
Peequal, the brainchild of University of Bristol graduates Hazel McShane and Amber Probyn, is the UK’s first touch-free urinal for women.
The unexpected design may look slightly daunting to the average festival-goer but fear not.
is needed now More than ever
Using the Peequal urinal is a surprisingly smooth experience, as Bristol24/7 found out at this year’s Love Saves the Day, where Peequal held its soft launch.
The colourfully-designed urinal solves the age-old problem of women having to wait for hours in toilet queues at festivals – a problem that initially inspired Hazel and Amber to create the product for their innovation unit, whilst at University.
Using screens instead of doors, users can only go there for a number one, meaning 90 per cent of women who just need a quick pee can go six times faster than if they were using a portable toilet.
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The raised platform also makes the entire unit touch-free, and the squat design means there is no need for any additional urinal devices or contraptions.
The Bristol-based start up will be joining forces with long-standing Glastonbury charity partner, WaterAid, whose volunteers will be keeping the urinals clean whilst raising awareness of the millions of people globally who are denied access to clean water and decent toilets.
The start-up began in 2021 when the pair ran a successful investment that secured over £250,000 to progress their product. Notable investors included the co-founder of Monzo, Tom Blomfield, and former COO of GÜ, Sarah Jones.
Peequal initially trialled their prototype at Shambala festival in Northamptonshire last year, where the response to their last-minute construction was overwhelmingly positive.
Data compiled from research conducted at the festival and Love Saves the Day in 2022 found that women find the experience quicker, safer and more sustainable than the usual festival portable toilet.
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100 per cent of women at Love Saves the Day said they found the experience safer and would use the urinal again.
The urinals will be available to over 100,000 women at Glastonbury with their brand-new facilities being showcased near the Pyramid Stage and in the Stone Circle.
After Peequal’s soft launch at Love Saves the Day at the beginning of June, the pair are excited for the ‘big launch’ at Glastonbury.
A huge footfall and unpredictable weather could impact the urinal’s success, but the pair say they are more than ready for Glastonbury, where around 200,000 festival-goers will spend this weekend.
Main photo: Peequal
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