What exactly is behind the term “green products?” Which innovative technologies are used to make them and which highly sustainable bathroom products does hansgrohe currently offer? In this article, we take a deep dive into the world of green products. We shine a light on what makes these products so special, how they’re different to conventional products, and how they help to make our daily lives more sustainable.
Imagine holding a product in your hand that does both you and the planet the world of good. This is the essence of green products: Creating a harmonious connection between humans and nature. At Hansgrohe, we define “green products” as highly sustainable bathroom products that were designed and made in such a way that their environmental impact remains low throughout their entire life cycle.
These products are designed with a clear aim: They should make a minimal impact on our environment for the benefit of climate protection. This includes products made of recycled materials, products designed so that they can be reused or recycled and products made from renewable resources. As green products, these highly sustainable items also have environmental certifications as independent proof of their credentials.
They are made of materials that are gently taken from the earth and manufactured in processes designed to minimize the ecological footprint. These products represent a responsible use of resources and a lifestyle that respects and protects Planet Earth. They are the result of a mindset that recognizes the need to take responsibility both for our immediate surroundings and the global environment.
Green products make a clear statement. Their presence in the market tells a story – one of forests able to breathe, oceans carrying less plastic, and a society living more consciously and healthily.
Throughout their life cycle, these products – from production to use and reuse or recycling – make as little impact on the environment as possible and can inspire people to change their mindset. They encourage us to see the bigger picture and consider the long-term implications of our consumer habits.
When choosing products for your home, especially the bathroom, the decision to buy green products is a clever choice. They have benefits for the environment and beyond. Here are a few of the advantages of purchasing green products for your home:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently published updated figures showing that food waste is responsible for around 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is a considerable proportion and represents around three times the global emissions from aviation. The production and disposal of household waste, including food and packaging waste, are a major part of this problem.
Cultural values: For a few years now, society has been placing great emphasis on cutting down on and minimizing waste, and it increasingly recognizes the importance of green products. A survey by Capgemini from March 2020 revealed that around 64 percent of global respondents said buying sustainable products made them happy. Despite achieving progress, we are only at the beginning of a journey that involves both individual happiness and a collective responsibility for our planet.
The step toward an eco-friendly lifestyle is just the beginning of a more comprehensive move toward sustainable behavior. It’s a matter of rethinking habits and actively campaigning for a sustainable future.
In light of the alarming fact that every year around ten million tons of garbage – mainly plastic (75%) – ends up in our seas, the need to opt for green products is more pressing than ever. It’s not just an eco-conscious decision but an urgent call to action so that we can protect our planet.
The characteristics of green products are guiding principles on this path. They help us to consume responsibly and to play a proactive role in nature preservation.
The sustainability of green products begins when the raw materials are selected. The focus here is on using renewable or recycled materials and avoiding scarce resources that harm the environment.
The pre-production and production phases are all about energy efficiency. The ecological footprint is minimized through the use of renewable energies and efficient production methods. Short delivery routes in retail support local communities and help to reduce CO2 emissions.
During the use phase, green products stand out for their low energy consumption and the use of eco-friendly consumables. And at the end of their life cycle? Circular economy models enable the products or materials to be returned to the technical or natural cycle.
Transparency when communicating information is essential. To understand a product’s social and ecological impacts, it is important to create transparency throughout its life cycle. For example, this includes the source of the raw materials, the production processes, and consumption during the product use phase. Seals and certifications can offer you the necessary guidance here.
For initial insights into and introductory information on the world of certificates, we recommend the article “Keep your green conscious in check with these environmental certifications.”
At hansgrohe, our commitment to green products is more than just a motto. This obligation is based on our ten ECO design principles, which help our products to conserve resources and protect water cycles. Our Eco 2030 program takes this one necessary step further.
Find out how we’re shaping a more sustainable future with our ECO Design principles and learn more about our commitment and responsibility.
Elegant design and sustainability can and should go hand in hand. Here at hansgrohe, we are proud to create products that not only enhance the bathroom but also make a contribution to a more sustainable world. Here is a list of some of our more sustainable bathroom products:
This award-winning hand shower represents our commitment to sustainability: At under 6 l/min, it uses 60% less water than our conventional hand showers and sets an example of how efficient we want our products to be. The Pulsify Planet Edition’s design won the Red Dot Design Award in 2021 and underlines our philosophy that functionality and good looks are not mutually exclusive.
Fitted with PowderRain and EcoSmart technologies, the Rainfinity 250 1jet overhead shower offers a sensual showering experience while remaining resource-efficient and eco-friendly. Thanks to flow limitation, it saves up to 40% water, while EcoSmart+ shower heads save as much as 60% compared to hansgrohe shower heads without this clever technology.
The Rebris S lavatory faucet is a perfect example of our philosophy that eco-friendly behavior is easy to implement in daily routines. With advanced technologies such as AirPower, CoolStart, and EcoSmart+, this lavatory faucet sets new water-saving and energy-efficiency standards within our product range.
Shower heads and rain showers with EcoSmart consume up to 40 %* less water than standard hansgrohe showers – or a whopping 60 %* less with EcoSmart+. Many EcoSmart shower heads therefore consume just 8 l/min* maximum – or 6 l/min* or less with EcoSmart+. A resource-efficient technology that still makes showering enjoyable.
With the handle in the middle position, CoolStart faucets only dispense cold water, rather than filling the pipe system with warm water unnecessarily. This saves energy, reduces CO2 emissions, and cuts costs.
AirPower mixes air into the water spray to create soft, light droplets. This increases the showering comfort and reduces the water consumption as less water is required to generate the same effect.
These days, sustainability is much more than a catchphrase – it’s an integral component of our lives that increases our awareness of environmental and climate protection. Although there is sometimes a discrepancy between people’s attitudes and their actual behavior, environmental and climate protection is becoming an increasingly important topic considered by many to be extremely relevant.
This is precisely why the topic of green products plays a key role for hansgrohe. We have made it our mission to get people to adopt sustainable values and attitudes, to promote responsible behavior, and to eliminate information deficits.
Read more about all the details and find out precisely the values we are aiming for and how exactly we want to promote sustainability in what we do on our Group site.
Our products, developed based on the ten ECO design principles, are an expression of our commitment to environmental protection and the responsible use of resources. Join us on this journey and become part of a community that advocates for a sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
Renovate and build in an environmentally friendly way. Learn interesting facts about sustainable bathroom renovation in the hansgrohe white paper.