Hansgrohe says it has achieved another milestone in sustainable product development with the launch of its Pulsify Planet Edition hand shower. The product is said to consider both user experience and sustainability, as well as resource conservation in all areas of the product life cycle.
Steffen Erath, head of sustainability, Hansgrohe SE, said: “Taking a hot shower for one minute consumes about as much energy as driving an electric car full throttle on the road for the same amount of time – with Pulsify Planet, we had to make sure this high energy usage was being addressed.”
To reduce energy usage, Pulsify Planet only has six litres of water flowing through the hand shower per minute, without compromising on showering comfort. In addition, the brand considered how the production and disposal of chrome-plated products can also have an environmental impact.
Raphael Zajac, product management at Hansgrohe, said: “We looked at all aspects of the product life cycle, and managed to switch to a recyclate wherever water didn’t flow through the Pulsify Planet Edition. Looking at the production process, we focused on cycles to ensure the materials could be recycled for as long as possible. This not only reduces the use of resources but also lowers transportation routes needed in the manufacturing process.”
The handle of the Pulsify Planet Edition is made from recycled plastic, and manufactured completely chrome-free. Hansgrohe developed a unique process for extracting the material used to make the handle itself with an ABS-coated plastic, made from end-of-life products and rejects, which are then shredded and cleaned. This is followed by a conversion into a high-quality granulate, which is a cleaner alternative to petroleum and fossil-based primary plastics, significantly reducing energy consumption during production. The process of developing ABS-coated plastic gives the material a sandy colour with small flecks, giving the products a unique look and elegant appearance.
Pulsify Planet Edition will be available in the UK from September 2023.
