Global bathroom leaders have signed a landmark agreement to reduce billions of litres of waste water from toilets, taps, and showers worldwide.
At the same time they pledged to innovate and design new products to reduce the risk of potentially deadly bacteria like c.diff and ecoli spreading through using bathrooms.
The impact of both commitments will impact billions of lives around the world and minimise significant and existential threats to humanity.
Up to 400 million litres of water are wasted each day in the UK alone through leaky toilets, which adds up to a staggering 1.46 billion litres of water a year. Switching to a lower-flow shower can save up to 60 per cent of the water used.
And while one in five people don’t wash their hands after going to the loo, simply washing hands can hugely reduce the risk of bacterial infection.
Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance states that more than 360 million lives have been lost to AMR since 1990.
The world’s top ten bathroom businesses discussed these issues and signed the declaration after a historic two-day summit at Windsor Castle, the private residence of the UK Royal Family.
They are calling on the global bathroom industry to follow their lead.
Bosses pledged to invest in research and development to develop more efficient toilets and showers, to clearly label products so homeowners can choose options which conserve water, and to lobby governments around the world for support to save water.
They have agreed to design and develop new products that reduce infection risks. This pledge will entail improving hand hygiene and reducing toilet plumes and biofilm growth. Examples include further development of touchless technologies, improvement of flushing systems, and surfaces that inhibit microbial growth.
Owners and executives of global bathroom giants Kohler, Fortune Brands Innovations, Hansgrohe SE, Ideal Standard/Villeroy & Boch, GWA Group, Norcros UK & Ireland, Kohler Mira, Roca Group, Thomas Dudley, Bristan, Sato and LIXIL and Lecico joined the summit.
The historic gathering was organised by the UK-based Bathroom Manufacturers Association.
BMA chief executive Tom Reynolds said the historic summit was so significant because it enabled the global industry to make a landmark commitment to address the critical issues which are existential threats to humanity.
He said: “Water is life. It’s needed by every living thing on the planet, yet climate change means that water scarcity is a growing problem even in wet countries like the UK.
“The situation becomes more complex and potentially more deadly because of the growing threat of bacteria which are not affected by antibiotics.
“Three years ago, we suffered a global pandemic. These resistant microbes represent a significant threat to humanity… without water, we can’t be hygienic, and here’s where our summit all comes together.
“The humble bathroom’s contribution to sanitation, hygiene and public health has saved millions of lives throughout history.
“This is the first time the world’s biggest manufacturers have come together, stepping up as a sector to agree to innovate, invest, research and develop products which deliver our mission.
“We’re taking water preservation and AMR to the next level, and as a sector, we will be following up regularly to measure the impact of this declaration.”
A new collection of brass and copper baths from Waterline are designed to bring unparalleled luxury into the home at an exceptional value. Handcrafted from 100% 16-gauge copper and brass, these stunning baths combine timeless elegance with unbeatable prices, making high-end luxury more accessible than ever.
Each bath is meticulously hand-forged, ensuring a unique and sophisticated look that will only get better with age. As the natural copper develops a distinctive patina over time, it enhances the bath’s authentic, aged charm. Copper’s remarkable ability to conduct heat means that the entire surface of the bath warms up to match the water temperature, turning every soak into a truly indulgent experience.
The collection includes a Brass Bath Tub, Nickel Plated Bath Tub, and a Copper Bath Tub with a Nickel Interior, all sized at 1650 x 750mm, along with matching bath wastes. To complete the luxurious bathroom setup, complementary brassware and shower sets are also available.
With this launch, Waterline continues to push the boundaries of accessible luxury, ensuring that premium craftsmanship can be enjoyed by a broader market. The baths are competitively priced at £5,985 to allow more homeowners to experience the perfect blend of style, quality, and affordability.
Bathrooms to Love by PJH has introduced a new Brushed Bronze finish throughout its Collection of bathroom products, including this stunning Iconix Fluted Glass Wetroom, featuring beautiful Bronze profiles.
The new Brushed Bronze Wetroom, from the brand’s top-of-the-range, Iconix RefleXion Enclosures family, is available with luxurious fluted or clear, 8mm toughened safety glass finished with elegant, brushed bronze profiles and support arms.
Joining an already inspiring choice of metallic finishes available over the Bathrooms to Love Collection, the new Brushed Bronze finish features on a range of product categories including brassware, showers, mirrors, radiators, and even wastes, making it easy to style products together.
As pictured, the new fluted wetroom panels feature soft, fluted, high-quality crystal-clear glass, boasting a pristine clarity – without the common green tint often seen on wetroom glass. This extra clean look is boosted yet further with the warm, elegant tones of the brushed bronze panel profiles and supporting wall arms – see the new video here: https://partners.pjh.uk/assets/videos/RefX-Iconix-Bronze-Wetroom-Intro.MP4
Showering Product Manager for Bathrooms to Love, Tanna Molyneux, said: “Brushed Bronze is a beautiful, warm finish that complements a wide range of materials and textures within any bathroom project. In addition to our new Bronze Wetroom range, we have launched a collection of coordinated bathroom products finished in this same sophisticated brushed bronze texture, allowing designers to create ever more personalised bathroom schemes.”
The high-specification Iconix Fluted Wetroom in Bronze also features an ‘Easy Clean’ glass coating, ensuring low maintenance and longevity and concealed fixings throughout profiles and arms for a sleek and flawless look. Standing at 1950mm tall, fluted wetroom panels can be installed directly onto a prepared wetroom floor or on a tray and come in four widths: 800mm, 900mm, 1000mm and 1200mm. Two optional fluted side glass panels are also available in 800 and 900mm widths.
As always, Bathrooms to Love products are supported with a package of stockist sales and service benefits, all aligned with PJH’s goal of being the customers ‘First Choice’. From POS to product swatches, and QR codes to AR, the Bathrooms to Love brand comes with a bundle of support from PJH, and stockists can expect a Next Day delivery Service to store or home (to 93% of postcodes). Order now via PJH’s class-leading Partners Portal™ e-commerce website.
Saniflo has added Wendy Shore to its sales team. After 18 years in key accounts and regional sales roles at Baxi, Wendy joined Saniflo as national sales manager in July 2024 and is responsible for driving growth of Saniflo products through a team of area sales managers.
Wendy’s previous roles – which included 12 years at British Gas prior to Baxi – means she’s been able to bring extensive experience within key accounts and national merchants to the role, as well as contacts in distribution, independent merchants and specifiers. She’s looking forward to supporting the team in their daily roles as well as ensuring customers remain right at the heart of the business.
“I am very focused on making sure we provide the right solutions for customers at all times and I am tasked with supporting and empowering my team to deliver that. We have a great team and amazing customer service; all the tools we need to deliver business growth,” says Wendy.
Warrington-based bathroom manufacturer Tissino has extended its Esclusiva range of premium products to all of its bricks-and-mortar retailers as it seeks to better support its customers.
The Esclusiva range, which until September was only available to 20% of Tissino’s customers, is now available to all brick-and-mortar showrooms. However, to continue to protect the brand, Esclusiva will not be available to any online-only retailers.
As well as extending who is able to retailer Esclusiva, Tissino has also extended the product range with several new launches, including Stratto, their new fluted vanity unit collection.
Helen Ray-Dennett, head of marketing and customer experience, says, “We know that there remains a heated debate within our industry around online-only retailers selling products at highly discounted rates that often can’t be matched by bricks-and-mortar retailers.
“Our Esclusiva range ensures that we are able to protect our brand and offering, providing our customers and consumers with premium products that remain premium. Many homeowners value brands that provide quality and exceptional customer service, long after purchase. The Esclusiva range is able to deliver on both and most importantly .”
Feedback from retailers has been exceptionally positive, with Tissino offering in person product training and pre- and post-sales support with dedicated sales agents.
Bathrooms offer the perfect opportunity for creative design, but they are also functional spaces that may need to accommodate a broad spectrum of people of various ages and mobility. That said, there’s no need for either of these things to compromise each other. Concept Freedom from Ideal Standard offers a sleek, contemporary look as well as an additional level of support for those who need it.
Created to boost independence and provide a beautiful bathroom design, Ideal Standard’s Concept Freedom encompasses style, safety, and convenience.
Carefully crafted in collaboration with the renowned Studio Levien, accessibility is at the core of the collection. Showcasing the classic ceramics that Concept is known for, the Freedom range features clever design elements that make it easier for those with mobility impairments to use.
Wall-hung, back-to-wall, and close-coupled WCs are also available in the range. They can fit a variety of bathroom styles and spaces and have a design that’s 25 percent higher than average. This reduces pressure on users’ knees and helps to improve the user experience for those with mobility issues.
The collection also features shower seats and chrome grab rails, giving a contemporary finish which enhances the overall design.
With Ideal Standard’s Singular™ philosophy, it’s also simple to mix-and-match products in Concept Freedom with the company’s wider offering, meaning a huge variety of combinations available.
Features by Diane Larner founder and editor of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review. Diane Larner launched both titles over 15 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industry ever since, publishing regular features across the two sectors.
According to ONS data, more households were multigenerational in 2021 (2.1%) than in 2011 (1.8%). This is symptomatic of an ageing population and increased economic pressure and means multigenerational living has emerged as a decisive trend within the housing sector. This shift underscores a growing recognition of the value of shared living arrangements that cater to families’ needs. The architectural community is adapting to this trend by creating spaces that not only accommodate multiple generations but also reflect preferences for style and functionality.
Of paramount importance in the intergenerational bathroom is the shower, which plays a vital role in ensuring that all family members can use the space safely. Product manager of HEWI, Florian Haude emphasises, “The shower in an intergenerational bathroom should offer support, flexibility and safety to all users in equal measure. In addition to a shower base that is flush with the floor, non-slip floor coverings and thermostats with scald protection, seating and hand-hold options should also be taken into account for a multigeneration bathroom shower.”
Kaldewei Shower Surfaces
Kaldewei shower surfaces are perfect for both multigenerational families and accessible living. With over 25 colours, each shower tray can be perfectly matched to the bathtub and washbasins in the room. In addition, Kaldewei transparent Invisible Grip prevents slipping on the shiniest shower surfaces. It works on the glossiest of their steel enamel surfaces and has no impact on the feeling underfoot, nor is the hold diminished when using soap, shower gel, or shampoo as the invisible micro-structuring of the enamel continues to provide a particularly strong grip underfoot.
Divine Design
Acquabella Halo Shower Tray
Alongside safety, the demand for sleek, high-performance bathroom solutions remains a key trend as consumers prioritise minimalist designs that create a sense of openness.
Acquabella’s design team agrees, “The latest trends in shower design reflect a blend of luxury, functionality, and sustainability, emphasising both aesthetics and user experience. Bathrooms are increasingly designed as open, minimalist areas that serve multiple functions. Features like walk-in showers, wall-hung toilets and integrated basins not only maximise usable space but also contribute to a streamlined, clutter-free look.”
The Acquabella Halo shower tray exemplifies this philosophy thanks to its thoughtfully engineered design. Featuring a subtle slope and a thicker border, the tray efficiently channels water flow into a long, narrow drain, ensuring optimal drainage without compromising on style. Its overall elegance and minimalistic appeal make the Halo shower tray a versatile choice that seamlessly complements a variety of bathroom styles.
Originally introduced in 2022, the Halo shower tray was initially only available in the Slate version with a slate-effect texture. However, it is now also offered in the Zero finish.
Sleek & Spacious
BetteAir Shower Tray
When it comes to residential or commercial design, large format trays create a sense of space, making the area more inviting and providing a seamless transition between the shower and the surrounding area. With fewer grout lines, cleaning is easier, which helps maintain hygiene. Additionally, large format trays can be customised in various sizes and finishes, allowing architects and designers to achieve a tailored look that complements their overall design.
Sven Rensinghoff, head of marketing and product development at Bette states: “In both residential and hospitality settings, there is now the opportunity to provide large, stylish shower trays that also have safety and hygiene benefits. Glazed titanium-steel shower trays come in an extensive range of sizes and can be fitted level with the floor to provide a durable, easy-to-clean surface.”
Bette glazed titanium-steel shower trayshave an invisible, smooth, and easy-to-clean anti-slip surface that provides the highest level of slip protection (Group C to DIN EN 16165) and is guaranteed for 30 years. Available in 70 sizes and 30 matt and gloss colours, they are strong and stable, even in the largest 2000 x 900mm and 1800 x 1000mm dimensions.
A Warm Welcome
HEWI WARM TOUCH
Texture can evoke an array of emotions, making it a compelling element in design. Positive haptics—those tactile sensations that feel pleasing to the touch—can be skillfully integrated into accessible design to enhance the user experience. By selecting finishes that provide satisfying physical feedback, designers can create environments that are easy on the eye and invite engagement and comfort. This intentional focus on texture helps foster a deeper connection between users and their surroundings, ensuring every interaction is enjoyable and meaningful.
The HEWI WARM TOUCH edition has a pleasantly temperate surface, which is particularly beneficial for people with a heightened sensitivity to cold. The 801 range features an elegant chrome look and, thanks to its special coating, the tactile properties of polyamide.
Plug & Play
Saniflo Modulo-XL-Luxe-Brooklyn
The growing demand for multigenerational living arrangements also highlights the necessity for innovative bathroom solutions that cater to a retrofit solution. This is particularly relevant for homeowners facing unexpected circumstances that require the swift addition of a bathroom. By delivering adaptable options, these solutions can enhance functionality and comfort in shared living spaces.
The latest offerings from Saniflo, the Modulo and Modulo XL, address this need by providing complete bathroom pods that seamlessly integrate into bedrooms, promoting both convenience and privacy. Modulo’s compact design, featuring a shower and basin, is perfect for smaller spaces, while Modulo XL adds a wall-hung WC for enhanced functionality. These retrofitted innovations optimise living spaces and foster inclusivity, making homes more adaptable for families of all ages and lifestyles.
Amanda Mills, marketing manager of Sanilfo UK agrees and explains the reasoning behind its new range: “Retrofitting bathrooms to support all ages is essential due to the ageing population and as more families consider multi-generational living. Thoughtful design features, like walk-in showers, grab bars, and adjustable fixtures, create spaces that balance safety, comfort, and style. Investing in these updates not only future-proofs homes but also demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, enhancing home value and usability for every generation. Multi-gen retrofitted bathrooms provide lasting peace of mind, supporting independence and comfort for everyone from toddlers to seniors.”
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To mark the 30th anniversary of the legendary Starck barrel, Duravit has renewed its partnership with Philippe Starck to present an updated version of this design classic. Originally acclaimed as a transformative revolution, the updated design demonstrates how glossy and matt ceramics, new lacquers, and innovative c-bonded technology can combine form and function to produce a unified whole.
Today, Philippe Starck explains the principles that drive the evolution of his designs and how durability and sustainability are the central values of his work.
Q. Mr. Starck, what motivated you to reinterpret the design of the iconic Starck barrel after 30 years?
This re-edition is more an uplift rather than a reinterpretation. We kept the same minimal and essential design that comes from the early ages of humanity. The barrel is a bucket, the simplest and most efficient means for humans to store and use water in their homes. A timeless bucket, now treated with the latest technology and rigour with new innovative materials, elegant finishes and a wide range of colour combinations.
Q. How do you approach new design projects and when do you know that a work has reached its final, perfect state?
In a society that preaches immediacy, Duravit is a lesson: confirming that what is important is the center, the know-how and that there is no substitute for a job well done. A value that I completely share. I don’t know about perfection, but longevity is certainly a sign that the product is good, that it brings a service. The Starck Barrel was the right product 30 years ago, and it still is today because it is not based on any trends, but on humanity.
Q. Your approach to design is based on reducing something to the verybasics. How do you integrate this minimalism into your creative process and how is it reflected in the development of the Starck barrel?
The main rule is timelessness because in today’s consumer society, advertising and marketing push us to a hyper-temporality full of trends. It must stop. Our earth cannot take it any longer. Life is a continuum. Our environment and our evolution do not follow trends nor work by decade. A creation has to be timeless, honest and of extremely high quality – materially and culturally – to guarantee its longevity, which is the main ecological parameter today. To achieve timelessness, I always try to find the core of the project, the backbone, its minimum, and actually its legitimacy to exist. The Starck Barrel is based on this idea; it is the absolute minimum: a pipe to drain the water up and a bucket to store and use it. I didn’t invent anything; I simply drew something that has always belonged to our human collective memory, our subconscious; something eternal, something that is not fashionable or trendy but emotional because, above all, creation should always be about love, poetry and humour, not to mention vision.
Q. How important is sustainability for your creative process, and to what extent does it influence your design decisions?
Sustainability has always been present in my work. It is a strong conviction, because I understood the importance of ecology at a very early age. I was 17 when, on the then desert island of Formentera, I met an American who told me he was an ecologist and taught me about ecology.
When it comes to ecology, the first questions you must ask yourself are always the same: Do I really need it? Does it deserve to exist? If we are honest, in 80% of cases, the answer is no. Therefore, not consuming and not producing are the best ecological actions we can take. On the other hand, if the answer is yes, we need to choose or create the best product, intelligent and honest, made from sustainable materials, and which will give us the best service for our whole lives before we can pass it on to our children and our children’s children.
Originally introduced in 2022, the Halo shower tray was initially only available in the Slate version with a slate-effect texture. However, it is now also offered in the Zero finish. The inspiration behind Halo Zero remains the same: like an aura, the frame surrounds the tray, becoming more defined around the area where the drainage grate is positioned.
In the Slate version, the shower tray’s border contrasted with the textured surface. In the new Zero model, however, both the frame and the rest of the surface feature a smooth, micro-textured finish, creating a more cohesive look for the tray.
The surface of the Halo Zero has a slight slope and a thicker border, designed to efficiently channel water flow into the long, narrow drain. The overall design is elegant and minimalistic, making it a versatile choice that can complement a variety of bathroom styles. Additionally, the tray comes in a wide range of sizes beyond just the standard options. It can also be customized in any preferred colour, with numerous choices from the Season, Naturally Made, and Standard lines and the RAL/NCS colour scale.
The Halo Zero is constructed entirely of Akron®, a silica-free material with hygienic and anti-slip properties. It is also exceptionally durable and resistant to hydrolysis, thermal shocks, UV rays, and scratches. Polyurethane and mineral fillers in its composition make it easy to cut and allow for high-definition finishes. Overall, the Halo Zero shower tray offers both practicality and aesthetic appeal, making it a smart choice for any bathroom.
Schlüter-Systems is well known as the expert in enabling the design and installation of long-lasting, creative bathrooms with portfolios of intelligent products and systems. The collection of lighting systems, which incorporate advanced control and luminaire technology, offers almost unlimited choice for the most imaginative schemes.
The key is Schlüter-LIPROTEC,which creates restful lighting for relaxing spaces or bright, colourful lighting for a busy family bathroom or kitchen. It can be installed in a choice of direct or indirect lighting effects, enabling the interior designer, architect, or property owner to illuminate feature walls, pictures, tiled areas such as shower enclosures or study spaces, kitchen countertops, and stairways—in fact, anywhere the creative mind can conceive a plan.
The collection offers the option of neutral white, warm white, or RGB+W LEDs. The latter allows for coloured and white LEDS on a single strip to generate coloured light or temperature-controllable white light, which can be selected from 2500 K to 6500 K. The system can be programmed to deliver a choice of 16 million colours via a Bluetooth app and remote control.
Suitable for moisture-prone areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and showers, the LED strips are completely encapsulated and conform to IP67 protection rating. Schlüter-LIPROTEC-EASY is the company’s simple plug-and-play version with matching power supply units up to 100W. The Schlüter-LIPROTEC-PRO series, meanwhile, is geared towards professional installers and offers bespoke lighting solutions. The LED modules are available either with a fixed white-light colour temperature of 3000 K or 4900 K or with the full RGB+W colour range.
Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD-NLT units are stylish niche sets fabricated from the company’s KERDI-BOARD, featuring plug-and-play LIPROTEC-LED technology. They can create illuminated recesses and storage surfaces for all kinds of wall areas, making an excellent feature for bathrooms and showers. They are enabled with Bluetooth/wireless receivers. The various light colours can also be selected via the supplied remote control or suitable Bluetooth-compatible smartphones and tablets.
