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Using ecodesign to innovate and stand out

Over the past 18 months, the Premier Tech Water and Environment team has developed an innovative new product offer. It combines wastewater treatment and dispersal in a single system, expanding the line-up of products marketed under the Ecoflo® brand.

After establishing itself as a leading player in the field of autonomous wastewater treatment, namely with the Ecoflo® compact biofilter, the business group saw an opportunity to diversify and expand its technology portfolio, while leveraging the expertise developed over the past 28 years. The goal was to strengthen the group’s leadership in its main markets and enter new ones.

Wastewater systems that combine treatment and dispersal are known for their reliability, their adaptability and their compatibility with different soil types and topographies. The group conducted an in-depth analysis of the available technologies on the market but found out that these solutions fall short of its vision for sustainability.

This finding drove Premier Tech Water and Environment to develop an innovative and competitive new product offer whose distinct features reflect the commitment of Premier Tech to sustainability.

— This finding drove Premier Tech Water and Environment to develop an innovative and competitive new product offer whose distinct features reflect the commitment of Premier Tech to sustainability. —

Innovation and ecodesign

Our Innovation Model draws not only on our skill set and various technological platforms but also, and even more importantly, on our ability to align solutions with real market needs and provide genuine value to the end client.

During the analysis phase, the Premier Tech Water and Environment team worked closely with septic system installers to understand the logistical and technical challenges they face on the ground. It quickly became clear that available systems did not meet installers’ needs and expectations.

These systems are complex to install, require extensive piping, and do not allow for preventive maintenance or repair if required. Observations resulting from the analysis phase were crucial in defining the criteria for the project and helped guide the product ideation and development phases of this new commercial offer.

— During the analysis phase, the Premier Tech Water and Environment team worked closely with septic system installers to understand the logistical and technical challenges they face on the ground.  —

The goal was to design a system that met market needs while embedding sustainability goals in the process. An ecodesign approach was therefore undertaken to assess the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the Ecoflo® linear biofilter at each stage of its life cycle.

Distinctive and sustainable features

The Ecoflo® linear biofilter is made up of a set of modular components so that the system can be sized according to the needs of each project. The compact modular design facilitates transport and handling during installation, and allows for tool-free maintenance, considerably reducing the system’s environmental impact.

At the core of the Ecoflo® linear biofilter is the main filter element, a coco filtration pad that can be easily replaced when it reaches the end of its life cycle. This material eliminates the need for C-33 septic sand, a non-renewable and increasingly scarce resource. 

— The compact modular design facilitates transport and handling during installation, and allows for tool-free maintenance, considerably reducing the system’s environmental impact. —

Developed by the teams at Premier Tech Water and Environment, the filtration pads not only preserve the underlying natural soil, but are also compostable, renewable and entirely natural.

All structural components of the Ecoflo® linear biofilter are reusable and made from 95% recycled plastic. Thanks to the system’s patent-pending wastewater distribution system, the amount of piping required is significantly lower than competing products.

A built-in distribution box and patented dosing device can also be installed upstream of the system, extending its lifespan even further. The dosing system is gravity based — i.e., with no electromechanical parts —, thus generating important energy savings.

All these features make the Ecoflo® linear biofilter an efficient, repairable and renewable product with minimal operating costs for the end user.

By using ecodesign to assess the upstream and downstream impact of each system component, Premier Tech Water and Environment differentiated itself from the competition and transformed the market for treatment and dispersal systems with a unique innovation in sustainable septic solutions.

Rolling out to new markets

The onsite wastewater treatment market is a highly regulated environment. Each province and state have their own specific certification requirements. Premier Tech Water and Environment is therefore planning to progressively roll out the Ecoflo® linear biofilter across North America as it obtains the necessary accreditations.

The potential of the new biofilter is right in line with the expansion strategies of Premier Tech Water and Environment, both in the business group’s existing markets and in many others where it is not yet present.

The initial launch of the Ecoflo® linear biofilter took place in early 2024 in Ontario, Canada. The response has been extremely positive, translating into gains in market share for the group. The substantial growth in the group’s sales in Ontario testifies to the relevance of this innovation.

— Premier Tech Water and Environment is therefore planning to progressively roll out the Ecoflo® linear biofilter across North America as it obtains the necessary accreditations.  —

Over the coming year, the Ecoflo® linear biofilter will be launched in several U.S. markets after having received its National Sanitation Foundation certification.

The creation of new distribution centres and supply partnerships will provide Premier Tech Water and Environment with interesting expansion opportunities to new territories, broadening its market reach across North America.

*This story is from the Premier Tech Report 2024.