The Unified Water Label Association (UWLA) is marking its seventeenth year of success in Europe with a significant rise in new memberships across the continent.

The first Unified Water Label registration occurred in September 2007 by Lecico Bathrooms in the UK, followed by numerous others throughout Europe. Over the past two years, fifteen new brands have joined the scheme, with seven of these joining within the last three months.

Antony Thompson, managing director at Lecico Bathrooms, remarked, “We have been proud supporters of the UWLA since 2007 and continue to use the label to highlight the water-efficiency of our products.”

The seven latest members include Ireland’s Sanbra Group, which encompasses the R T Large and St James brands; Italian bathroom and kitchen supplier Cristina; Polish ceramics company Cersanit; Frattini, an Italian tap manufacturer; German bathroom and kitchen fittings company Kludi; handwashing solutions provider Smixin, based in Switzerland; and Neoperl retail, an international leader in innovative solutions for drinking water.

Yvonne Orgill, UWLA managing director, stated, “The UWLA emerged from the European Bathroom Forum, a collaboration of four European water labels. These robust European foundations have enabled the Unified Water Label to become the leading product-based water label in both the UK and Europe.

“Earlier this year, we merged with the Portuguese association Anqip, creating a unified scheme for cross-border sales. Together, we are striving towards the goal of a single water labelling scheme across Europe.

“By continuing to drive growth through our extensive communication and education programmes, we expect further expansion across Europe and are on track to meet government objectives for 2024 and 2025.”

Shower designer and manufacturer Roman has furthered its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Roman has long embraced the Circular Economy, with all products featuring very high levels of recycled content. As a British manufacturer, Roman’s carbon footprint is unrivalled.

Roman has also announced another breakthrough: the installation of four state-of-the-art renewable energy furnaces. These furnaces have revolutionised Roman’s waste handling while contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. They have been installed across Roman’s 400,000 sq ft manufacturing site in County Durham.

The new furnace technology is designed to efficiently remove waste wood, converting what would otherwise be discarded material into a valuable energy source. This not only reduces environmental impact but also cuts down reliance on non-renewable energy sources, dramatically reducing Roman’s carbon footprint. This marks a significant step forward in Roman’s journey toward a zero-waste future. The wood comes from nearly 300 tons of waste generated annually from supplier packaging. The hot air is ducted throughout Roman’s manufacturing complex and has the added benefit of eliminating the need for traditional heating.

This further investment in renewable energy is just one part of Roman’s broader sustainability initiative. In addition to the four furnaces, Roman has upgraded its entire facility with energy-efficient LED lighting. LED lights consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting systems, offering an eco-friendly alternative that reduces electricity consumption.

Roman is a very active member of the United Nations Global Compact – the global leader in sustainability, ethics, and human rights. These advancements align closely with Roman’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which guide businesses to continually strive for economic growth that is inclusive, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to society. As a proud member of the UN SDG initiative, Roman is committed to advancing several vital goals, including affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13).

Roman has also announced that its CEO, David Osborne, has been invited to speak at the forthcoming United Nations GC Annual Summit at London’s Guildhall on October 1st. David commented, “It is a great honour to be involved with the United Nations GC Summit, and we are there to share our achievements and ambitions within our supply chain.”

GROHE, a leading supplier of premium bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is preparing to unveil its inaugural UK Specification Hub in London by late 2024.

GROHE has confirmed its plans to establish its first UK Specification Hub at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. As a permanent addition to the venue, GROHE will join a prestigious design and interior brand group at this iconic exhibition centre.

The hub will serve as a specialised space for A&D (architects and designers) customers to explore the GROHE portfolio up close, including the luxury sub-brand GROHE SPA. The space will showcase GROHE’s top-selling products, such as plumbed-in shower systems for live demonstrations, Sensia Pro shower toilets, brassware, and accessories. Additionally, visitors will see a variety of finishes from the GROHE Colour Collection.

The hub will be operated by GROHE’s UK Sales and Projects team, targeting designers, specifiers, and architects. Visits are arranged by appointment. The space will also host broader activities for the UK team, including events, training sessions, and product launches.

The concept for the Specification Hub has been led by Chris Dodds, Leader, UK & Ireland, LIXIL EMENA, and Louis Pullen, Leader, Architecture & Design, UK, LIXIL EMENA, with a clear focus on strengthening customer relations.

Commenting on the launch, Chris Dodds, leader, UK & Ireland, LIXIL EMENA, said: “The opening of our Specification Hub in the Business Design Centre marks a strategic advancement in our approach to the projects sector, which is seeing rapid growth in the UK and Ireland. We recognise the importance of providing a tactile environment where customers can interact with our products before specifying them. Now is the perfect time for us to invest in a dedicated space for our A&D partners in the UK. This new hub will allow us to expand our premium and professional product range, providing a fresh touchpoint for our partners and prospective customers to experience GROHE’s innovative offerings.”