GROHE Advances Plastic-free Packaging to Tackle Rising Pollution

June 8, 2022
plastic-free packaging

By Adedapo Adesanya

With the annual flow of plastic into the ocean estimated to triple by 2040, immediate action is needed to tackle the plastic pollution crisis and GROHE, a leading global brand for bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is advancing towards plastic-free packaging.

Since 1980, there has been a tenfold increase in plastic waste pollution in the oceans and while plastic-free solutions are increasingly demanded by consumers and regulators alike, options are still limited which is impeding development for all industries.

However, small steps can have an immediate and scalable impact which is what GROHE is doing by taking small steps toward a big goal.

“While a complete switch to plastic-free packaging has not been possible yet, we will continue to constantly reflect, challenge and re-evaluate the status quo of our solutions.

“To drive a plastic-free future forward, we focus on taking action. A crucial part of this is encouraging innovation applicable for the mass market in the packaging sector and inviting partners to work with us together to create new opportunities,” Mr Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA said.

In 2018, the brand set itself the aim of removing all plastic from its packaging as one of the three core pillars of its Less Plastic Initiative. But the team involved in this task realised that this complete shift could not be implemented with the packaging options available.

Factors such as the setup of current recycling mechanisms and the lack of plastic-free solutions, especially for delicate product surfaces, still pose a huge challenge not only to the GROHE brand but to all industries.

Nevertheless, as an important achievement on this continuing journey, GROHE is now saving 37 million plastic items per year due to the elimination of all unnecessary plastic in its product packaging. This equals the average plastic packaging waste generated by more than 4,300 citizens in the European Union over the course of one year.

“Achieving plastic-reduced packaging could only be reached by a multidimensional approach, including new innovations and small modifications – quite literally thinking outside of the box. For example, our project teams in the plants used novel solutions such as moulded pulp inserts instead of expanding polystyrene or wrapping film solution.

“Moreover, some simple yet impactful changes were developed. A product part of the GROHE Rapid installation system is now used to stow other loose pieces. This small modification has resulted in a big impact, saving 26 tons of polybags per year. I am very proud of the creative ambition with which my colleagues have approached the issue in order to bring about change,” explains Mr Peter Brendecke, Leader Quality and EHS Fittings, LIXIL International.

GROHE is a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings and has a total of over 7,000 employees in 150 countries – 2,600 of them are based in Germany. Since 2014 GROHE has been part of the strong brand portfolio of the Japanese manufacturer of pioneering water and housing products LIXIL.

Adedapo Adesanya

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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