Bathroom brand Kaldewei has launched a first-of-its-kind circular economy pilot in partnership with the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, refurbishing and reinstalling used shower surfaces and bathtubs on a large scale.
The project demonstrates the viability of high-end upcycling in hospitality and construction. More than a decade after installation, existing Kaldewei Superplan showers and bathtubs were dismantled, returned to the manufacturer, and restored using a proprietary multi-stage process. This included sandblasting, re-enamelling, and the application of the anti-slip Secure Plus enamel surface for added safety and performance.
“With this project, we are not only saving resources, but we are also sending out a clear message: durable products can remain valuable even at the end of their useful life – and can be reused,” says Jakob Klingenberg from Kaldewei.
The process achieved a substantial reduction in carbon footprint compared with producing new products. “The remanufacturing of the shower surfaces and bathtubs by Kaldewei produced around 65 per cent less CO2 than the manufacture of new products,” Klingenberg continues.
The refreshed bathroom products complement the hotel’s updated interior, revealed on 4 July 2025 during its anniversary celebrations. The design merges environmental responsibility with style, reflecting a shared goal between Kaldewei, 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin and all project partners to advance sustainable hospitality.
Margaux Verbeeck, Project Manager at KNSA Hospitality, commented: “The hotel development industry still has many opportunities to become more environmentally friendly. The upcycling story at the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin is a step in the right direction and hopefully the start of a long journey.”
“We show how upcycling works in the project business and bring Cradle to Cradle to life,” adds Klingenberg.
Kaldewei is the first bathroom manufacturer to apply upcycling on this scale, setting a benchmark for the industry. The company now plans to extend this model to other partners and projects, underlining its commitment to design excellence and resource conservation.