P2Rx Marketing Report

Nedra Kline WeinreichWeinreich Communications

January 2005

Qualitative Research

In-depth telephone interviews with 14 respondents

• Approx. half frequent users, half non/low users

• Mostly state P2 staff, EPA regional staff,

environmental organizations

Quantitative Research

Online survey with 497 respondents

Approx. 2/3 came from WRPPN, GLRPPR, PPRC

Mostly technical assistance providers, state and local government staff

Only 7% business/industryVast majority (73%) have >5 years of

experience in the environmental field.

Knowledge/Perceptions of P2Rx

Website for P2 information Way of sharing information between

the centers and not duplicating efforts Offers ability to network among the

centers for answers to questions Some confusion of P2Rx with NPPR

Relationship between P2Rx & Regional Centers

P2Rx primarily a website connecting topic hubs at each regional center

P2Rx as a network of regional centers, connecting them to share resources and collaborate

Centers seen as where the primary interaction happens with the users in each region

Perceptions of Centers

Centers are seen as partners• Users receive TA, regional roundtables,

news, etc.• Users provide assistance to the centers

(e.g., creating topic hubs) Wholesaler - retailer relationship Centers are very helpful May have too much on their plates Websites have improved

Best Things About P2Rx

One-stop shopping Efficient information sharing Entry point to P2 information Comprehensive Can find things quickly Topic hubs - condensed info

Use of P2Rx

Most used resource is topic hubs • Easy to use and comprehensive• Not detailed enough for many people

Many go to P2Rx first if they know of a topic hub or another resource on their issue of interest.

Many people on a listserve, but don't realize it is a P2Rx-affiliated service.

Why Not Use P2Rx?

They just don't think of it Most go to their regional center first P2 is not the primary issue they are

working on -- depends upon current projects and priorities

“Old hands” go directly to resources, need more detailed information.

Prefer to search for info themselves

How Found Out about P2Rx/Center

Colleague - 45.5% E-mail message or listserve - 25.5% Internet links - 17% (search engine +

link from another website) Brochures (5.8%), conferences (5.0%),

and government assistance providers/referrals (3.8%)

Many aware since their inception

Accessing P2Rx/Centers

70% use P2Rx or regional center at least once per quarter - 41.7% quarterly, 23.9% weekly, and 3.4% daily.

About 20% are first time users. Most access their own regional center

rather than P2Rx – 54.5% go to regional center vs. 29.2% to P2Rx.

Where Get P2 Info

EPA website (56.1%) and regional centers (54.5%) were most common

Regional centers varied (by region):• PPRC - 66.7%• WRPPN - 60.6%• WRRC - 54.9%• GLRPPR - 54.7%• NEWMOA - 50.0%• Peaks to Prairies - 42.9%• P2RIC - 36.0%• Southwest Network - 21.4%

Where Get P2 Info, cont.

More than half (52.5%) use a general internet search.

Colleagues provided P2 information to 42.8%.

P2Rx was a usual source of information for almost one-third of the respondents (29.2%), tied with training.

How They Use the Info

At least monthly: Learn more about an issue - 47.3% Assist a client in P2/WR - 37.1% Provide info to a client - 36.6% Assist my org in P2 - 33.4% Collaboration - 29.1% Achieve compliance - 25.7%

P2Rx/Center Websites

Accurate Mostly easy to use Some browser problems Some confusion with differences in topic

hubs between centers News/links need updating Sometimes hard to find things Layout/navigation could be improved

How Useful are Resources?

4= very useful, 1=not useful

Topic Hubs - 3.07 Library - 3.04 News - 3.02 P2 Programs Directory - 2.85 Hg Reduction Progs DB - 2.70 RFP Database - 2.43 Homes Across America - 2.27

How Useful are Services?

4= very useful, 1=not useful

Regional Roundtables - 2.98 Rapid Response - 2.93 Listserves - 2.83

Useful Info Formats

4= very useful, 1=not useful

Fact Sheets - 3.36 Case Studies - 3.22 Personal Responses to Qs - 3.06 Background/Overview - 3.00 Manuals - 2.99 Training - 2.94

Useful Info Formats, cont.

Referrals to Experts/TAPs - 2.87 Assessment Tools - 2.79 Biblios/References/Links - 2.74 Vendor Information - 2.45

Other Types of Info Formats Needed

In-depth reports/fact sheets on specific topics

Checklists for each sector Info organized by pollutant

sources/SIC codes/state Tools to measure/report success

Other Types of Info Formats Needed, cont.

Case studies/success stories with cost information

Training curricula/resources Customizable brochures/fact

sheets Everything in PDF available online

Desired Resources

More staff - P2Rx as assistant? More subsectors in topic hubs Updates on news, innovative projects

and technologies Announcements of new resources

available, links, regional activities Input from industry on what they want

help with

Desired Resources, cont.

Industry-specific P2 options Conference proceedings Regional project publications Contacts for environmental and industry

organizations Speakers Bureau - recs from others P2 Activities at Universities Tribal resources

Topics of Interest

Auto body/paint Regulatory/compliance info Mercury reduction Construction materials Stormwater and wastewater issues Alternatives to chemicals/processes Pharmaceutical waste Pollutant source reduction

Topics of Interest, cont.

Sources of funding for P2 Vendor information Industrial processes Innovative P2 technologies Safer cleaning compounds Solid waste recycling/source reduction

RecommendationsOverall Approach

Primary emphasis on individual regional centers, with P2Rx branding

P2Rx as one-stop shopping, entry point to other resources

Focus on primary audience of technical assistance providers and fed/state/local envtal staff - esp. EPA staff

Focus on more in-depth info Put products with national scope (e.g.,

listservs) under the P2Rx label

RecommendationsPromotion

Focus on interpersonal/e-mail methods - esp. between colleagues

Get better placement on the EPA website P2 homepage

Periodically send out reminders about particular resources

Increase number of websites linking to P2Rx/regional centers

Consider single P2 listserv

RecommendationsWebsite

Make sure works with all browsers Make sure links are up-to-date Put something new on the site at least

once per quarter - include in email newsletter

“Email this page” from the website Standardize topic hub formatting on

center websites

RecommendationsResources

Everything should be accessible online (except for copyright)

Extend electronic library Case studies/success stories National programs directory needs to be

only P2 programs Materials for trainings Fact sheets on very specific topics

RecommendationsResources, cont.

Checklists for different sectors Assess annual state priorities and

develop materials to address those Break topic hubs down more into

subsectors P2Rx as clearinghouse to disseminate

regional/national info Customizable document templates

RecommendationsResources, cont.

Info on pollutant sources that leads to different industry sectors

Assessment of industries interests Improve Research Projects Database More compliance and regulatory

information for each sector