Green and Affordable Water Supply for All

Project Information

Desolenator

Grant agreement ID: 719712

DOI 10.3030/719712

Closed project

EC signature date 8 March 2016

Start date 1 March 2016

End date 31 August 2016

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Total cost € 71 429,00

EU contribution € 50 000,00

Coordinated by

DESOLENATOR UK LTD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Desolenator (Green and Affordable Water Supply for All)

Reporting period: 2016-03-01 to 2016-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The Global water crisis has had its results in Southern Europe. Households (i.e. inCyprus & Malta) are unable to drink tap water due to it’s apparent poor taste and level of quality. Families are reliant on overpriced bottled/vendor water, and are in need of an eco-friendly, affordable solution, like the Desolenator purifier.

This project enabled the Desolenator team to fill the gaps in their knowledge and validate market entry. Working in collaboration with Misco Malta and Noverna Plus research firms, Desolenator completed quantitative and qualitative research to identify customer segments, consumer needs/values, Desolenator purchasing decision factors and future purchasing trends. These findings were utilized to adapt product development, and form distribution partnerships.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Desolenator mapped out the (macroeconomic and microeconomic) Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legislative (PESTEL) landscape to determine market entry viability in Cyprus and Malta. This involved desk research and interviews with stakeholders and organisations.

In Cyprus, Desolenator worked with Noverna Plus to complete 600 random interviews with heads of households. The study included socio-economic classes A, B, C1, C2 and D living in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Pafos and Famagusta. 4 focus groups were then held with homeowners who were interested in Desolenator and could afford the product (A/B and C1). The groups were divided into: young Larnacan Cypriots aged 25-44, Nicosian Cypriots aged 35-54, Eastern European expats aged 25+ in Limassol and British expats aged 25+ in Paphos

In Malta, Desolenator worked with Misco Malta to complete 400 Computer Aided Telephone Interviews (CATI) with randomly selected homeowners. 4 focus groups (32 participants) were then held with roofright owners who were interested in the Desolenator concept, and could afford the product (A/B, C1). The groups were separated into: Women aged 30 +, water purifier users aged 30-50, water purifier users aged 50+, and bottled water users.



Results have been used to inform product development and create a market entry strategy.

Desolenator will launch its product in the Cypriot market
The concept appeals to 44% of Cypriot households
The price, appearance, output water and warranty appeals to consumers
Consumers need to test the product before purchasing
Key Cypriot customer segments are technologists, healthy families and conservationists.
70% of the Maltese population are content with free bottled supermarket water, so Desolenator will enter this market later.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The global water crisis has led to a reduction in household tap water quality in Southern Europe (i.e. Cyprus & Malta). As a
result, the majority of households no longer drink tap water. They rely on overpriced bottled (including vendored) water,
and are in need of the Desolenator (an eco-friendly, affordable, solar-driven household water purifier).
During this H2020 project, the Desolenator team carried out in-depth research in order to gain a deeper understanding of
the Southern European market and to validate market entry. Working in collaboration with Misco Malta and Noverna Plus
research firms, Desolenator identified customer segments, consumer needs/values, Desolenator purchasing decision
factors and future consumer purchasing trends. These findings were utilised to guide product development, create a market
entry strategy and form strategic partnerships.
Desolenator mapped out the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legislative landscape to
determine market entry viability in Cyprus and Malta. This involved desk research and interviews with stakeholders and
organisations.
In Cyprus, Desolenator worked with Noverna Plus to complete 600 random interviews with heads of households. The study
included socio-economic classes A, B, C1, C2 and D living in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Pafos and Famagusta. Focus groups
were then held with homeowners who were interested in Desolenator and could afford the product (A/B and C1). The 4
groups were divided into: Larnacan Cypriots aged 25-44, Nicosian Cypriots aged 35-54, Eastern European expats aged 25+ in
Limassol and British expats in Paphos aged 25+.
In Malta, Desolenator worked with Misco Malta to complete 400 randomised Computer Aided Telephone Interviews (CATI)
with heads of households. Focus groups were then held with homeowners who were interested in the Desolenator concept,
could afford the product (A/B, C1) and had roof ownership. The 4 groups were separated into: women aged 30 +, water
purifier users aged 30-50, water purifier users aged 50+, and bottled water users.
Main Results
Desolenator plans to enter the Cypriot market because the product concept appeals to 44% of Cypriot consumers. In
particular, the device appearance, output water per day and warranty appeal to customers.
Since 70% of the Maltese population are currently content with drinking free bottled supermarket water, Desolenator will
not enter this market right now, but plans to do so at a later stage.

Desolenator product features