On Friday 1st November, global bathroom manufacturers signed a landmark agreement aimed at reducing billions of litres of waste water from toilets, taps and showers around the world at an historic gathering organised by UK-based Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA). At the same time they pledged to innovate and design new products to reduce the risk of potentially deadly bacteria, such as c.diff and ecoli, spreading through the use of bathrooms. According to the BMA, both commitments will impact on 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 loos. It adds up to a staggering 1.46 billion litres of water a year. In addition, switching to a lower flow shower can save up to 60% of the water used. And while one in 5 people don’t wash their hands after going to the loo, simply washing hands can hugely reduce the risk of bacterial infection. According to Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance, more than 360 million lives have been lost to AMR since 1990.
The world’s top 10 bathroom businesses talked through these issues and signed the declaration after a 2-day summit at Windsor Castle. 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 also agreed to design and develop new products that reduce infection risks. This pledge will entail improving hand hygiene, 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, GWA Group, Norcros UK & Ireland, Kohler Mira, Ideal Standard/Villeroy & Boch, Roca Group, Thomas Dudley, Bristan, Sato and LIXIL, and Lecico joined the summit.
BMA chief executive Tom Reynolds said the summit was 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...
“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.”
