How Grohe ‘Cradle to Cradle’ certified products promote a circular economy
We’ve worked closely with Grohe for years. Not just because we think their products are fantastic eco-friendly alternatives, but because they are constantly striving to be better. A big focus for Grohe is reducing waste. In many of their products, they’re now ditching a linear economy in favour of the Cradle to Cradle concept.
What is a linear economy?
We live in a predominantly linear economy today. It refers to finite resources that are used to make products – the likes of fast fashion – that will be thrown away before reaching their full potential. Take a pair of jeans that have gone out of fashion for example. They’ll most likely end up in landfill even though there is nothing actually wrong with them.
As the name suggests, these products always move in one direction, from raw material to the bin. Following this model has meant that our use of resources has tripled since 1970, putting immense pressure on our planet’s resources.
What is a Cradle to Cradle approach?
We know the linear economy isn’t sustainable. The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) design concept is a way to future-proof the economy and promote circularity. Unlike the linear approach, a Cradle to Cradle product’s lifespan does not end at disposal. Instead, its components are re-used to make new products, reducing the number of raw resources needed.
Cradle to Cradle goes far beyond recycling: it takes the entire lifecycle into account from production to disposal. Grohe calls the different biological and technical materials ‘nutrients’ which is a far more accurate representation of their value.
It classifies materials into one of two systems:
Biological – materials that naturally biodegrade and can be returned to the Earth such as natural fibres.
Technological – materials that can be recycled or reused such as metals or oil-based plastics.
Essentially, the Cradle by Cradle approach imitates the natural cycle of life as every component of a product feeds another product – they are continually circulating as nutrients.
What is a Cradle to Cradle certified product?
Products can gain a Cradle to Cradle certification. The multi-attribute certification is a framework designed to create a healthy, equitable and sustainable future. To achieve the status, a product is evaluated in 5 categories:
- Material health – is the product safe for humans and the environment?
- Product circularity – does the product enable a circular economy?
- Clean air and climate protection – does the product generate clean energy and protect the environment?
- Water and soil stewardship – does the product safeguard air, water and soil resources?
- Social fairness – does the product embrace safe, fair and equitable labour practices?
To date, more than 34,000 products have the certification across a wide range of categories. And it doesn’t stop at one certification. It has 4 ascending levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. This encourages your favourite products and brands to carry on innovating. After all, sustainability isn’t a single destination.
Grohe’s Cradle to Cradle certified products
So far, Grohe has 6 products that have been certified. Let’s check them out!
Gold
Grohe Blue Filter S-Size 600 Litre
Perfect for hard water areas, this filter is super easy to replace. Simply unscrew your old filter cartridge and insert this one.
Grohe Eurosmart Basin Mixer S-Size
Featuring SilkMove Eurosmart technology, at the mid-lever position only cold water comes out to help you cut back on energy use.
Grohe Eurosmart Kitchen Mixer Tap
This mixer tap is ideal for busy family kitchens as it has a high spout height for tall pots and pans. The coated cartridge inside controls the temperature and water flow more accurately, helping you cut costs.
Grohe Tempesta Shower 100 rail set
Combing the EcoJoy and DreamSpray settings helps you heat and use up to 50% less water without compromising on pressure. Other innovative features include the Inner WaterGuide, AntiFold and ShockProof technology.
Bronze
Grohe Tempesta 2 spray hand shower
Perfect for family homes, the Inner WaterGuide prevents the surface from getting too hot and the Starlight coating is scratch resistant. Plus, it helps you heat and use 40% less water.
Grohe Blue Filters
If you’re using a Grohe system, you need the blue cleaning cartridge system to keep it in top-notch condition. It ensures the chiller and filter head are 100% disinfected.
And knowing Grohe’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, more products will gain certification in the future. We’ll keep you updated.
Grohe has been contributing to a circular economy for decades
Grohe has always had strong eco credentials: with recycling rates up to 99% and the use of brass with recycled content up to 80%. The Cradle to Cradle certification is just the next step in the ever-evolving journey of sustainability. We are proud to work with Grohe and we’re excited to provide our customers (that’s you!) with these great, science-based proven products.
If you want to partake in the circular economy cycle, we recommend joining our Home Club. It gives you access to an entire range of eco-friendly products at unbeatable prices for free delivery. Now you can shop knowing that you’re protecting the planet.
