Coway Develops 'Water Taste Index'... "Tastier and Cleaner Water"

Researchers belonging to the Coway Water Taste Laboratory are smiling brightly while studying water.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] Coway announced on the 17th that it has developed the industry's first 'Water Taste Index (GPT)' that can diagnose the taste of water from water purifiers.

The Water Taste Index was developed to objectively inform customers that the taste of water varies depending on various factors such as product type, filter type, and water contact parts, and that water taste is a priority when choosing a water purifier. It consists of 'Filter Performance,' a standard for clean and safe water, and 'Water Taste Sensory Evaluation,' a standard for clean and pleasant drinking water.

Filter Performance scores are calculated using the 'Water Purification Performance Certification Index' awarded to products through KC Mark and the Water Quality Association (WQA) international water purifier quality certification. The Water Taste Sensory Evaluation section was independently developed by Coway's Water Taste Research Institute after one year of research. The study involved 244 consumer panelists and 9 water experts.

Coway conducted a first consumer survey on its own and competitors' products to derive 166 water taste terms. Through correlation analysis between attributes, 31 water taste terms were selected. Then, a second expert and consumer preference evaluation was conducted to select 15 water taste terms, and finally, based on statistical analysis, 6 core water taste attributes were derived.

The core water taste attributes of water purifiers are each divided into 3 positive and negative expressions. The water taste sensory evaluation is conducted focusing on the 6 core attributes, which are used as weighting factors to calculate the score. The final Water Taste Index is calculated as the average of the Filter Performance Index and the Water Taste Sensory Evaluation Index.

In the future, to scientifically verify and advance the Water Taste Index, Coway plans to utilize 'Electronic Nose Analysis Equipment.' This equipment is specialized for aroma analysis. Using the electronic nose, substances that may affect water taste will be identified and included as factors in the Water Taste Index.

Kang Sanghyun, Head of Research at Coway Environmental Technology Research Institute, said, "Coway pays great attention to water taste, having ranked first in both the Water Purifier Water Taste Evaluation by the Korea Management Association Consulting and the Water Taste Competition Water Purifier category hosted by the Korea International Sommelier Association last year." He added, "We plan to take the lead in developing water purifier products that provide tastier and cleaner water by utilizing the Water Taste Index."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.