How can I be more sustainable in the bathroom?

Water Consumption:

With the average amount of water consumption increasing and many consumers unaware of the volume of water used throughout the home and in the bathroom in particular, our water consumption in the Western world is on the up. For instance, taking regular baths is the biggest water usage in households – on average it takes 115 litres of water to fill up a bath. Whilst taking a shower, you use on average 50 litres of water. By introducing and designing a sustainable bathroom, you could reduce energy and water consumption considerably. Not only does it save money in the long-term, it also promotes sustainable living.

Manufacturers are increasingly working to develop sustainable products, so it is more readily available to introduce products that will make the bathroom eco-friendlier. 

Water saving devices such as low flow taps and showers, as well as dual flush toilets are relatively inexpensive and effective, in addition to replacing old lights with LEDs in relation to energy consumption. Whilst more expensive changes, such as the installation of underfloor heating and high efficiency toilets and showers, are likely to be more relevant to developers since they save energy and reduce costs in the long run.

Materials:

The materials you choose to put into your bathroom can go a long way to making your bathroom more sustainable. Using natural and recyclable materials such as steel bathtubs can make a big difference. Cast iron baths – ‘a bath for life’ are a great to create a focal point in an interior. 

More than 60 years ago, Bette chose to focus on the natural materials glass and steel. All of their products are 100% recyclable and exclusively “Made in Germany”.  All products are manufactured completely without chemicals or solvents, and thanks to their environmentally friendly production and long life, they demonstrate a first-rate life cycle assessment and a product guarantee of 30 years. Looking at it from an alternative angle, what if waste bound for the landfill had hidden value? 

Sustainable Products:

Nature Squared have recently collaborated with Dornbracht and introduced customised versions of its iconic MEM handles, aiming to minimise waste while showcasing the exquisite beauty of natural materials. Nature Squared is an ethical design brand with a mission to create truly innovative sustainable surfaces, they specialise in creating meticulously crafted innovative sustainable surfaces and finishes that showcase the inherent beauty of discarded materials. Through cutting-edge technology, Nature Squared utilises waste to produce. It captures the beauty of non-endangered, protected or threatened materials, like seashells, which are then cracked by hand and inlaid onto a carrier to create a unique texture that is incorporated into the brassware handles.

The collection will be showcased at West One Bathrooms’ newly renovated Battersea showroom, from March 2024.