myecoapp: Progressing to Phase 2 with Exciting Developments

Following the successful completion of Phase 1 of the SBRI competition: Increasing Household Recycling Practice through the Novel Use of Persuasive Technologies, we are thrilled to have progressed to Phase 2.

This exciting next stage kicked off on 5th November 2024, allowing us to build upon our previous work and continue delivering innovative solutions for improving recycling behaviours.

Expanding Our Reach and Target Audience

During Phase 2, our collaboration has grown significantly. In addition to working with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, we are now also partnering with Derry and Strabane District Council and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. This expansion allows us to test and refine our app across a broader audience and in varied environments.

Additionally, the target audience has evolved to include new user groups such as student accommodation, holiday rentals, and caravan parks. By the end of this phase, we aim to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a significant milestone that brings us closer to launching a fully functional app.

Milestone-Driven Progress

Milestone 1 – Refining the MVP Design

After our Phase 2 kick-off, we immediately began working on refining the MVP design based on feedback from our newly involved councils. We presented updated app designs and proof of concept, giving stakeholders a first look at the evolving platform.

Feedback such as “simplify”, “everything on one screen”, and “less on screen” guided our refinements, ensuring that the app remains intuitive, user-friendly, and engaging.

Milestone 2 – From Design to Development

With the finalised designs in place, Milestone 2 marked the transition from design to development. This phase also involved producing our Technical and Functional Specification reports for stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment with project goals.

Milestone 3 – Developing Core Features

We have made significant strides in development, particularly focusing on key app features such as:

Account management

Multi-item scanner

ecoscore system

Our progress enabled us to demo these features, refining the multi-item scanner to ensure it operates efficiently and seamlessly for users.

A key milestone was our interim presentation on 21st January 2025, where we discussed our development journey, demonstrated core app functionalities, and outlined potential routes to market for the app.

Milestone 4 – User Testing and Feature Enhancements

We are currently progressing through Milestone 4, which is another exciting stage in our journey. This phase focuses on:

User testing to refine existing app features

Enhancements to the MVP, including:

Voucher/reward system

Learning zone

Smart speaker integration planning

The learning zone is proving to be a crucial feature, offering educational resources on sustainability and recycling. We look forward to presenting further updates on this at our upcoming council project meeting.

Looking Ahead

As we continue through Phase 2, we remain committed to delivering an innovative, user-friendly solution that empowers individuals to recycle more effectively. The support from our councils and stakeholders has been invaluable, and we are eager to demonstrate the full potential of myecoapp in the coming months.

Stay tuned for further updates as we push towards our ultimate goal – transforming recycling habits through technology and behavioural insight!