Lakes, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of innovative showering spaces, has been awarded Carbon Neutral Plus certification for its UK operations in recognition of the company’s continued commitment to reducing its impact on the environment.
Lakes was awarded the Carbon Footprint Standard in March 2019. Since then, the company has gone above and beyond to reduce its carbon emissions even further, offsetting more CO2 emissions in 2019 than its UK operations generated.
More than half of the CO2 emissions offset by Lakes in 2019 were attributed to tree planting schemes in Kenya and in the UK, including the planting of over 200 trees at a local school in Gloucester. Lakes is also supporting projects to protect the Amazon rainforest, provide water purifiers for Cambodia, and improve boreholes in Uganda to provide clean drinking water.
As well at its focus on UK and global environmental projects to offset its carbon emissions, Lakes has been working to be more resource responsible, and the company leads the industry in its commitment to reducing waste. Last year, Lakes introduced 100% recyclable packaging to remove approximately 2,000 kilometres of banding and nearly two million pieces of polystyrene a year from landfill. It also committed to 100% recycling all of its product waste (primarily glass and aluminium) and all recyclable site and office waste. Thanks to these proactive steps, Lakes has already saved 298 trees from paper and cardboard production through the recycling of 76% of its waste this year1.
Mick Evans, Lakes Operations Director, says: “We are absolutely thrilled to be certified as Carbon Neutral Plus. The sustainability of our business has been a significant focus over the last 18 months and one that we will remain strongly committed to. We’ve introduced big changes in our packaging and processes to reduce waste, and invested in projects which improve the environment in the UK and further afield. There is no planet B, and we all have to go above and beyond to make a difference and lessen the environmental impact we make, while still delivering the high quality products and first class service our customers and partners expect from us.”
Zoe Booth, Environmental Consultant at Carbon Footprint Ltd adds: “Lakes has taken leading and responsible steps to mitigate the current climate emergency, going above and beyond to offset more CO2 than their UK operations produced.”
The new Kaldewei Ming washbasin is luxurious and Asian-inspired, it joins Kaldewei’s sustainable steel enamel portfolio.
Ming’s design is unique in its segment. Its shape typifies both the traditional and the modern. The lines of this delicate washbasin bowl produce an elegant, sculptural shape ideal for distinctive interior designs. It also offers comfort thanks to its generous depth and, with hygiene in mind has an easy-to-clean glass surface.
Ming combines unique design with sustainability
The Ming’s most striking design feature is its elegant shape. Convex curves form a sensual outline, the neutral black and white tones used remain unobtrusive, allowing for plenty of scope within individually designed washrooms.
Like all Kaldewei products, the Ming is made of superior steel enamel. This material features a flawlessly glazed surface and is extremely long-lasting and ultra-hygienic. Steel enamel is 100 per cent recyclable and is one of the most sustainable materials available for modern bathroom fit-outs. This washbasin bowl is easy to clean and extremely resistant to external impacts just a few of the reasons why Kaldewei offers a 30-year product guarantee for its steel enamel products. The Ming is available in four different colours: lava black matt, polished black, alpine white and alpine white matt.
Musician and photographer Bryan Adams showcases Ming with a powerful message
Guided by the motto “naturally connected”, legendary musician and award-winning photographer Bryan Adams has artfully showcased the new Kaldewei Ming washbasin bowl. He aims to highlight connectedness and awareness of hygiene in turbulent times. Applying a keen eye for detail, Adams gives us an intimate look at being together: with simple hygiene measures we extend our hands to each other – to our family, our friends and our partners. It’s a message that is both highly topical and timeless – and one which is perfectly reflected in the Ming’s classic design.
Saniflo has launched a comprehensive new catalogue, it is colourful, easy to follow and showcases a raft of new products including grease traps, submersible pumps, larger lifting stations and a boiler condensate pump.
The new catalogue provides clear and concise guidance regarding which products are best suited to a range of applications – from small homes to large commercial premises – and features useful information about the brand’s history and global presence, the factory in France, noise levels, support, warranty and an overview of the Saniflo proprietary macerating technologies.
The Unified Water Label has been included within the criteria of energy saving taps, by the Energy Saving Trust, in a new initiative designed to encourage consumers to replace their old appliances with new efficient ones.
The European funded, energy efficiency project called HACKS (Heating and Cooling Knowhow Solutions) is promoting the energy efficiency message via a variety of consumer focussed channels, including their own website www.toptenuk.org. This website has been established for several years, and is a reliable and trusted tool, and source of information for energy-conscious consumers.
UWL managing director Yvonne Orgill said, “I am delighted that the UWL has been recognised within this project. It is an important channel for us to educate consumers about the link between water and energy efficiency, and promote the benefits of looking for products that display the label.
“I hope that many other organisations will support the HACKS project, as it is only by working together as one, that we will deliver our message and help drive forward change.”
KEUCO Sanitiser Dispenser – a stylish way for everyone to sanitise their hands
Where the design of functional accessories is concerned KEUCO claims to have set new standards with its sanitiser dispensers. They have a number of new models; each one is suitable for different areas and locations depending on the environment and form of application required. All of the new dispensers combine design with functionality to meet hygiene requirements, whilst incorporating KEUCO’s own sense of style; creating a distinguished design with state-of-the-art hygiene properties.
Stable, high quality and always ready to use
Design object or functional accessories? In today’s COVID climate sanitiser dispensers have become a must for every property. KEUCO’S dispenser with its straightforward, linear design language originates from the pen of the design office Tesseraux + Partner, Potsdam. These simple elegant styles – with technical features that have been almost invisibly integrated in the design – are typical for KEUCO. These dispensers make a stylish addition in an entrance or waiting area, in fact, any location where people gather.
The dispenser’s extraordinary appearance is a combination of high-quality workmanship and the best materials all combined within a strong, eye-catching design. They are easy to operate: just press the big, buzzer to dispense the sanitiser. The storage container is discreetly hidden inside the column and can be easily refilled with a liquid or gel sanitiser of your choice.
Variety in design
KEUCO sanitiser dispensers offer a wide variety of different colours and colour-combinations including plain coloured, multi-coloured, black and white or elegant metallics and for multi-site requirements, they can even create bespoke options with your own brand identity. From subtle to catwalk – this collection provides the perfect solution for every room, whether in a public building, office, boutique or hotel. KEUCO makes a practical design statement in the entrance area
Pictured top: Slim, free-standing and stable; the sanitiser dispenser variant with shiny chrome head provides an elegant finishing touch whilst ensuring ease of use. The chrome top is simple to remove, just pull upwards and the supply bottle is revealed ready to be refilled. The large base plate ensures stability and catches stray drops of sanitiser during use.
VitrA has expanded both its Designer Collection and the recently launched Signature Collection with a new range of Origin brassware, showers and accessories.
The subtle, elegant design is the key theme of the outstanding new Origin brassware and accessories range from VitrA. Origin presents retailers, designers and consumers with a complete and versatile collection that is the perfect partner for contemporary sanitaryware.
There are over 150 pieces in the collection including monobloc taps in four heights, wall and deck mounted mixers, and both concealed and exposed thermostatic and manual showers with a choice of handheld or fixed overhead showers. A comprehensive range of accessories complements taps and showers. All pieces are available in chrome, brushed nickel, copper and matt black finishes.
“This is a beautiful, comprehensive collection,” comments Marketing Manager Margaret Talbot. “The design-for-all ethos can be seen throughout with the choice of finishes, sizes and product types. Top-quality materials have been used with cartridges that allow light fingertip control and deliver an efficient flow rate. There are products to satisfy the most demanding specification with basin mixers, baths, showers, wet rooms, WCs and complementary accessories.
VitrA Origin also includes colour-matched bottle traps and waste covers. The exposed and concealed shower systems can be installed using VitrA’s innovative Minibox and V-Box systems.” Origin taps require an operating pressure of 0.3 bar.
Yvonne Orgill, Managing Director at the Unified Water Label was a guest speaker at the Worshipful Company of Plumbers Autumn Lecture, Water Efficiency into the Future, which took place on 28 October.
Hosted by CIPHE, the event was hailed a great success with more than 400 registering to attend and half of those joining the live session.
Yvonne said, “This was a great example of how to make technology work and deliver a worthwhile CPD event. The engagement was fantastic with lots of questions and a number of polls that took a snapshot of views on key questions.
“For me it was an opportunity to highlight that there is mixed messaging on the importance of not wasting water, especially during the Covid pandemic, but there is a real urgency for the plumbing industry to grasp this issue. If we do not all work together then there is the danger that a solution could be imposed by those outside the industry.”
Tim Sainty, Membership Director of the CIPHE, added “Hosting this event was a highlight of my year. The response by those who attended showed the value of bringing together knowledgeable and respected speakers on this topic. Low-carbon may continue to generate most of the headlines but how the industry responds to the pressing need for water efficiency measures will have the biggest impact on customer experience for years to come.”
GROHE has announced it is a founding sponsor of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), for the twelfth year in a row. Due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation, this year’s edition will take place as a virtual event with completely new and exciting formats, all focussing on the main topic of “Living with Pandemics”.
From 30th November to 4th December live content, talks, panel discussions and networking opportunities will foster the professional exchange between architects and designers from all around the world. The virtual attendees can expect renowned keynote speakers such as Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang, Sir David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates, Ben Van Berkel of UNStudio and Sir Peter Cook.
GROHE will not only award this year’s winner of the Water Research Prize on 2nd December, a prize which honours initiatives that investigate the architectural implications of water in respect of buildings or the built environment, but will also contribute to the live sessions throughout WAFVirtual, including sessions on prefabricated housing, touchless product solutions and 3D technology.
“Being the founding member of the World Architecture Festival and supporting it for the last twelve years, we are delighted to see that WAF has developed into a must-attend event for the global architecture community” says Stefan Schmied, Vice President Global Projects Grohe AG.
“We look forward to participating in the virtual transformation of the festival and discussing the challenge for hotel designers to ensure safe distancing in hospitality and also how designers and manufacturers can realise the possibilities of digital design and construction to create buildings focused on health and wellbeing.”
Paul Flowers, Leader, LIXIL Global Design adds: “It is more important than ever for designers and architects to share ideas and collaborate. GROHE is immensely proud to support WAF for the twelfth year and its first virtual festival to engage in these discussions and foster professional exchange. Only together can we make impactful change on the holistic experiences we create.”
Free registrations are now open to all journalists, architects and designers.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to take a new look at the way we live and will have a direct impact on how we design our homes in the future. For the bathroom, this will mean a greater emphasis on adaptable bathroom spaces that can cater for periods of increased use in busy or multi-generational households.
The shower room has always been an ideal way to create a spacious, luxurious yet durable bathroom space. Whether you are working to transform a small bathroom or refresh an existing shower space, we have some ideas to help you on your way.
Flush to floor shower areas
Flush to floor shower areas help to create a level shower area, making them perfect for all generations and abilities, they are also easier to clean.
Bette’s Head of Marketing, Sven Rensinghoff tells us “Flush-to-floor shower trays are growing in popularity because they look so stylish and contemporary, while also increasing accessibility in the bathroom. There is a trend towards larger shower areas, with the largest 1800 x 1000mm being selected more often, as they are great to use and help to create an extremely luxurious look. We are also seeing more shower trays chosen in colours to coordinate with various forms of flooring. In particular, with matt finishes in colours inspired by nature. There is also more interest in anti-slip, now that almost invisible options are available, and in other finishing touches that provide a benefit for the customer, such as upturns, so silicone is not required where the shower tray meets the wall.”
The BetteFloor shower area, pictured here, can be fitted flush with the floor and is strong, easy to clean, sustainable and 100% recyclable. Like all Bette shower trays, it comes with a 30-year warranty. Bette easy-to-fit shower trays are available in 400 colours. Keep Reading…
The BetteFloor glazed titanium steel shower floor
Shower enclosures &slip-resistant shower floors
UK manufacturer Kudos tell us they have benefited from increased sales in showering enclosure products and from a reinvigorated interest in British Made products.
Nick Graville, Sales & Marketing Director Kudos Shower Products explains “In terms of style trends there are two key themes we are seeing. The first is possibly the result of an ageing population and they are certainly the ones with the disposable income at present, that’s slip-resistant features on designer products.
“The second trend is in coloured fixtures. Those old enough to remember the coloured bathroom suites of the past will understand that the market has been white and chrome fittings for many years since. However, as different metallic and matt finishes grow in popularity in brassware, this is now making its way into shower panel profiles to coordinate, whether that be matt black, brushed gold or brushed nickel stainless steel effect.”
The most recent launch from Kudos is a new 300mm glass Deflector to suit all Kudos Ultimate Showering Panel, this new fold-away glass ‘Deflector Panel’ is a stylish and practical solution designed to suit the Ultimate collection of showering panels from Kudos. Keep Reading…
A new 300mm glass Deflector to suit all Kudos Ultimate Showering Panels
Multi-generational spaces
The rise in multi-generational living has not only created a need to re-configure our living space to cater for all ages, we also need a space to relax and unwind. If you are not a fan of the bathtub, it makes sense to install a shower room, without compromising on aesthetics.
Lakes Sales & Marketing Director Mike Tattam agrees “Showering is an essential part of everyday life – it can set us up for the day or help us to wind down at night. A rise in multi-generational living, busier households and shrinking bathrooms means showers suit modern living. However, the importance of a daily shower as a slice of ‘me time’ means homeowners are looking for a spa-like experience where relaxation is almost as important as getting clean.
“Bathrooms need to be beautiful to look at, but also suit the space and lifestyles of the people using them – with of course the reassurance of durability and low maintenance too.”
Lakes premium Island Collection now includes Antigua and Aruba. The new ‘showroom exclusive’ products are designed with Lakes Definitions for an exclusive finishing touch.
Lakes Antigua showering space with a chrome handle and profile caps as standard
Finishing touches
For a coordinated design, shower components and bathroom accessories are key to creating the right aesthetic, at the same same time, they must deliver functionality and durability. Planning in accessories early helps designers establish a bathroom theme at the outset, many manufacturers offer complete collections to help simplify the process.
Margaret Talbot, Marketing Manager at VitrA tells us “A shower that looks fantastic and feels fantastic is both a luxury and for many an absolute necessity. Safe thermostatic water temperature control is critical for all bathrooms, and water efficiency is increasingly important for consumers who are keen to save resources and money on utility bills. Colour and texture allow for a stylish statement in modern bathrooms – blacks and copper look impressive against whites and muted tones. But it is the high-quality, brass components, behind the scenes that will provide the user with the ultimate showering experience for many years to come.”
VitrA’s Origin and brassware accessories range has over 150 pieces in the collection, including monobloc taps in four heights, wall and deck mounted mixers and both concealed and exposed thermostatic and manual showers with a choice of handheld or fixed overhead showers. A comprehensive range of accessories complements taps and showers. All pieces are available in chrome, brushed nickel, copper and matt black finishes.
VitrA new Origin collection shower heads shown in all new colours
Origina Pure shower – handheld copper
VitrA Origin showerhead handshower water on matt black
“This is a beautiful, comprehensive collection,” continues Marketing Manager Margaret Talbot. “The design-for-all ethos can be seen throughout with the choice of finishes, sizes and product types. Top-quality materials have been used with cartridges that allow light fingertip control and deliver an efficient flow rate. There are products to satisfy the most demanding specification with basin mixers, baths, showers, wet rooms, WCs and complementary accessories.”
Utopia has refreshed its Halo range of contemporary wall mounted bathroom furniture with the addition of a beautiful new oak finish, an extended choice of basins and a number of co-ordinating ancillary items.
The introduction of Washed Oak, a warm, natural finish with a beautiful woodgrain effect, brings the number of Halo finishes to six, while a new slimline ceramic basin offers an alternative to the existing Gloss and Matt Coralux solid surface washbasin options.
Also new to the range are co-ordinating bath plinths to accompany bath side and end panels, co-ordinating worktops for toilet units and filler panels to allow for a corner installation.
Helen Clark, Head of Marketing at Utopia Bathrooms, comments “The appeal of Halo lies in its modern minimalist design which makes it the perfect choice for a contemporary bathroom. Our new Washed Oak finish complements the simple linear styling of the furniture offering a natural, spa-like feel and will undoubtedly broaden the appeal of the range still further.”
