JEDDAH — GROHE, the world's leading provider of sanitary fittings, in its second sustainability report on Tuesday announced the economic, environmental and social impact of its business operations for the years of 2015/2016. The report indicates that GROHE's sustainability objectives are above target. In 2016, for example, GROHE almost doubled the target of reducing its water abstraction by just under 9 percent compared to 2013. GROHE was able to increase its energy efficiency to over 14 percent in the same amount of time, the target being almost 9 percent. GROHE has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by almost a quarter, the target also being just under 9 percent. In addition, GROHE is pursuing the ambitious goal of increasing its energy efficiency by 20 percent by 2020 and reducing the carbon footprint by 20 percent.
Striving for the highest levels of sustainability is an integral and essential part of GROHE's DNA and, in addition to quality, technology and design, the brand’s core value. GROHE consistently pursues a 360-degree sustainability approach that incorporates the defined areas of activity of employees, suppliers, processes, products and contribution to society in equal measure. The responsibility for sustainability rests with the Executive Board Operations which is advised in its decision-making by the interdisciplinary Sustainability Council.
As part of its sustainability strategy, GROHE is dealing intensively with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. These include, for example, the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation (goal 6), the support of sustainable consumption and production patterns (goal 12) and the development of measures to fight climate change (goal 13). GROHE, part of the LIXIL Group since 2014, shares the passion for sustainability with all of the group’s brands. Among other things, the common goal is a net zero environmental impact: By 2030, the positive environmental contribution of LIXIL products and services will exceed the environmental impact of all of the group's business processes.
At GROHE, the focus is on conscious and sustainable handling of every single drop of water. Accordingly, the number of environmentally friendly products, technologies and innovations is continuously increasing. For example, GROHE Blue provides sparkling, medium sparkling and still water that is filtered and chilled directly from the kitchen tap. Based on the EU average, this can help a family of four save 600 plastic bottles a year. In addition, a study conducted by the German University of Göttingen showed that the system saves more than 60 percent of CO2 emissions compared to bottled water.
The GROHE Sense and GROHE Sense Guard water security system launched in 2017 ensures that undetected leakages – which cause 10 percent of private water consumption – are being revealed. In case of a burst pipe, the water supply is switched off immediately. In turn, the proportion of basin fittings with the water-saving EcoJoy technology has increased to approximately 70 percent (2014: 38 percent). Since their product launch in 2013, they helped save about 2.35 million hectolitres of water – which is equivalent to almost five times the amount of water in Lake Constance.
"At GROHE, we are responsible for a future worth living," explains Thomas Fuhr, Executive Director Operations at GROHE, who is responsible for sustainability at the board level. He adds: "We are firmly convinced that sustainability and efficiency are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, an organization’s future viability and economic success largely depend on its sustainability. The well-being of future generations can best be secured if sustainability also pays off economically.” — SG
