Purifier makers see thirst for cleaner water in China_美文

Purifier makers see thirst for cleaner water in China

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Domestic and foreign water purifier suppliers are expanding in China, where households are feeling the pain of clean water shortages.

Companies such as UK-based Unilever, Beijing Origin Water Technology Co and US-based Amway have developed their own water purifiers.

Unilever, the global consumer goods giant, plans to sell its water purifier, called Pureit, in China starting July 1. It has already begun trial sales in Nanjing and will expand into Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou in Jiangsu province and Shanghai this year.

The main distributors of Pureit will include supermarkets, electronics retailers, including Suning Appliance Co and GOME Electrical Appliances.

Cooperation with property developers and e-commerce retailers is under consideration.

"As a move to implement our sustainable development plan, Pureit has achieved good performance in eight countries, and we are confident of success in China as well," said Zeng Xiwen, a vice-president of Unilever China.

Zeng added that the drinking water purifier market is open and has few regulatory constraints.

Pureit, introduced in 2008, is now sold in eight countries to 48 million consumers. Unilever aims to provide clean water to 500 million people by 2020, and at least 5 to 10 percent will be Chinese, said Zeng.

Origin Water set up a household water purification branch in 2009 and developed its own purifier portfolio for urban and rural consumers. It now has more than 100 dealers across the country.