Resource-Efficient Products for the Bathroom and the Kitchen
We see product innovations as a driving force to achieve far more than economic success. With a spirit of innovation, we address concrete problems such as the lack of resources, be it the looming water crisis or the shortage of production materials. We have defined ten EcoDesign principles for all our products.
Our EcoDesign Principles
With the “Products” initiative, we bring together all measures that make our product portfolio and product development more sustainable. Since 2022, we have implemented EcoDesign principles. Our designers use these development guidelines as a reference during product development. At the same time, we take regulatory requirements into account and strive for clear and verifiable sustainability claims regarding our products.
Our EcoDesign principles:
- Planet-centered Innovations
With carefully thought-through innovations, our products overcome the limitations of the status quo. As a result, we set new benchmarks in minimizing negative environmental impact, while maximizing comfort.
- Less Water, Less Energy, Less Costs
Our products only use water when it is necessary. At the same time, they are designed to ensure maximum comfort with reduced water usage.
- Energy-Saving Mode On
Our products use energy-saving and efficient technologies. The energy required for heating the water in the usage phase is minimized by reduced (hot) water volumes, among other things. Electronic and digital functions of the products are provided in an energy-efficient manner.
- Long Product Lives
The design and construction of our products is timeless and made to last. Any maintenance or repairs can be carried out easily and without special tools. In order to extend the products‘ service life, they are designed so that they can be technically and visually updated.
- Closing the Cycle
Our products are separable by type. The recyclable components can be returned to the material cycle. This can be done via recycling by the customer or via a product take-back with subsequent remanufacturing/recycling by Hansgrohe.
- Less Material
Our products are material-efficient, which means they consist of as little raw material as possible. Environmental properties play a central role in material selection. Previously used materials are replaced by more sustainable alternatives. Our products do not use inseperable composites or material mixes.
- Less Complexity
Our products consist of components and parts that can be used universally across the portfolio. This reduces complexity and costs. Innovative design languages are realized via very few new parts.
- Less Coating
Our products are durable, even without a coating. When we apply coatings, we try to use the least amount of material. To enable component recycling, the thickness of the coating must be as thin as possible.
- Staying Clean
The design and materials of our products reduce dirt deposits and calcifications. Cleaning them is easily possible without the use of environmentally harmful, aggressive cleaners.
- Awareness Guides Behavior
Our products create transparency, and we sensitize our customers about the conscious use of water and energy through education.
Innovation for Efficient Technologies
We focus our innovation efforts not only on comfort and user-friendliness but also on fur ther improving the efficiency of our products and integrating resource-saving technologies and materials more broadly into our product range.
At the same time, we are strengthen ing our innovative capacity organizationally: We file a large number of new intellectual property rights annually. Using the Vitality Index, we systematically track the proportion of our revenue generated by new products launched within the last 36 months. Currently, about one-fifth of our revenue comes from new products. This indicator shows how suc cessfully we are integrating innovations – including many resource-saving solutions – into our portfolio.
ECO 2030: Our Ambition for the Portfolio
A significant part of emissions in the lifecycle of our faucets and showers occur during their usage phase – primarily due to the energy required to heat water. This knowledge shapes our portfolio strategy. Our ambition is to offer our water-bearing hansgrohe and AXOR product portfolios¹ with water- or energy-saving technologies² by 2030.
Specifically, this means that for the product lines in our water-bearing product portfolio, we will offer water- and/or energy-saving alternatives that combine efficiency with water experience and reduce water and/or energy consumption during use. By continuously developing our portfolio and increasing the proportion of more efficient products, we reduce the environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle.
More Informed Purchasing Decisions
By clearly and comprehensively communicating the environmental benefits and potential savings, we enable more informed purchasing decisions. We provide our specialist partners with technical information on products, installation, and application through online and in-person training sessions. These formats support the proper planning and use of sanitary technologies and help highlight efficiency potentials in everyday life.
The Bathroom of the Future
A key inspiration for Eco 2030 was the “Green Vision – Beyond Water: Rethinking Bath room Culture” concept, developed in collaboration with the design studio PHOENIX. The concept demonstrates how a bathroom of the future could potentially require up to 90 percent fewer resources without compromising hygiene or well-being. The technical and design analysis of this vision is gradually being incorporated into our product develop ment, reinforcing our focus on resource efficiency and reduced operational emissions.
¹ Our relevant water-bearing product portfolio includes hand-held and overhead showerheads, shower sets, shower combinations, shower pipes, and wash basin and kitchen faucets
² Products with built-in water- or energy-saving technologies such as EcoSmart, EcoSmart+, CoolStart, EcoSelection, or SensorActivation. More informa tion about these saving technologies
High Transparency Through Environmental Product Declarations
Since the end of 2022, we have been publishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for existing products from AXOR and hansgrohe. They represent average environ mental impacts across the entire life cycle – from raw material extraction through manu facturing and use to the end of the product’s life.
We now cover over 1,700 products, including new categories such as furniture, mirrors, and ceramics from the standard range. All EPDs are verified by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt e. V. (IBU).
