Hippo Roller
Water Transport for Rural Communities
Millions of people worldwide are forced to walk long distances on a daily basis to collect their potable water requirements. Traditional methods of collecting water include the use of 20-liter (5-gallon) buckets, which are laboriously carried on the head. This method is very time and energy consuming, can cause injuries, and discourages regular access to safe sites of drinking water. The Hippo Water Roller was specifically designed to address these needs. The Hippo Water Roller is a barrel-shapped container designed to transport 90 liters (20 gallons) of water. It is comprised of a drum with a large screw-on cap and a clip-on steel handle.
The Details
D2M engineers worked with the local chapter of Engineers Without Borders to develop an idea book focused on exploring the problems of water transportation. D2M organized the effort with Engineers Without Borders to consider a new Hippo Roller that accommodates improved functionality, shipping efficiency, and improved affordability.
Cause Marketing
D2M also assisted Hippo Roller by creating an innovative funding campaign. This campaign involved introducing the Hippo Roller organization to Zuvo Water LLC, a client of D2M’s and a start-up in the clean-tech, water purification space. As an emerging growth company, Zuvo Water needed to create a public relations campaign that helped increase awareness of its brand with a positive, socially responsible message. Hippo Roller needed a sustainable means of generating funds that would bring greater predictability to its expansion plans than conventional philanthropic donations could provide. D2M creatively married these two needs by creating an entire cause marketing program consisting of the following: a product line of stainless steel water bottles with a unique, eye-catching logo; a sourcing program that identified a responsible supplier of the products; a pricing program that would allow Zuvo to both sell the units and donate the profits to Hippo Roller; a merchandising program that would attract the attention of consumers in retail outlets; and a guerilla marketing public relations campaign that would generate buzz for the program and eventual sell-through.
Support the Hippo Roller Project at hipporoller.org.
Photo by Emily Pilloton