Kohler sets out vision for "water stewardship through uncompromising design"

Promotion: global kitchen and bath brand Kohler has set out an ambitious vision for the role it will play on the future of water conservation in the built environment.

The U.S. company has taken a three-pronged approach with a design strategy that it says is increasingly focused around sustainability.

Firstly, innovating with products that prioritise water conservation. Secondly, easing dependency on freshwater and supporting restoration projects. Finally, engaging in what it describes as "a wider ecosystem" of architects, designers, builders, and policymakers.

"At Kohler, we believe water is not just a resource; it’s a vital thread that weaves through every aspect of life and the built environment," said Laura Kohler, chief sustainable living officer and board member at Kohler.

She was appointed in the newly created chief sustainability officer role in January 2023, in what the company said reflected the sustainability priorities of the organisation. Her role was changed to chief sustainable living officer in January 2024.

She subsequently established bigger goals for the organisation with more urgent deadlines in pursuing water conservation and improved access to safe water and sanitation.

Smart technology and products which prioritise water efficiency are at the heart of its work, said Kohler.

Years of research, analysis and design from Kohler have culminated in several new products such as smart toilets, advanced shower panels and hands-free taps which it expects will significantly reduce water waste.

"By blending thoughtful design with cutting-edge technology, we’re not only shaping a future where water is respected and preserved, but also inspiring others to rethink how we interact with this essential resource," said Kohler.

The Leap toilet is Kohler's latest smart toilet, capable of saving around 48,000 gallons of water over 20 years, Kohler claimed.

As well as its Leap toilet, its smart panels for showers allow people to set an eco mode which ensures significantly more efficient water usage. It has also designed a smart water monitoring system giving people more visibility of water at home, identifying leaks and waste.

The company has been rethinking its designs since its first public sustainability commitments in 2008. It has been exploring the broader system of water in the built environment, leading to a wide-ranging selection of water conserving products offered across its global product portfolio.

"Our water ambition - 'Water Stewardship Through Uncompromising Design' - reflects our commitment to innovating solutions that ensure equitable access to clean water and create more efficient and sustainable water experiences for generations to come," Kohler added.

The U.S. company also marked the 10 year anniversary of its WasteLab initiative this year, which sought to develop new designs which advance circularity and wasted materials.

It developed a range of WaterSense labelled products with features which it claimed has saved over 634 billion gallons of water per year in the U.S. since 2007.

In its bid to be an active participant in water security over a long term, Kohler has been fostering partnerships with other organisations with similar interests.

Among them is a multi-year project led by Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Arizona State University and Bridgestone to convert high water use crops to low water use crops and install high efficiency irrigation technology to low water use crops to alleviate water stress on the local aquifers.

Laura Kohler outlined many of the themes at a talk moderated by Dezeen US editor Ben Dreith during Climate Week NYC, which took place from 22 to 29 September.

The panel, which also included AvroKO architecture design director Dennis Askins and Six Senses regional director Sarah Bonsall, explored radical ideas to address water security, spanning the design of buildings to advocating for improved infrastructure in neighbourhoods.

Laura Kohler said in the company's impact report that its ambition is to "leave the world a better place than we found it".

She added: "We evolved our mission to intentionally embrace the concept of sustainable living and significantly increased our efforts to address the water crisis."

The photography is supplied by Kohler.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Kohler as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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