The Duravit CEO is certain that, in many countries, technological progress will soon “demand further innovative thinking on how to use resources more intelligently and efficiently”. Duravit has therefore made it a declared company policy to exceed current legal requirements and make a pro-active contribution to resource efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of its activities. Its maxim here is to “avoid generating waste in the first place”. Starting at product development level, Duravit makes a point of considering the environmental impacts of all aspects of production and use, and investigating means of using resources more efficiently. Where waste is unavoidable, its re-use or recycling is planned in. “Our aim is to return everything to the production cycle, wherever possible”, explains Kook. And he emphasises that all of these measures also make sound economic sense for the company: “We implement these measures not just to get green credentials, they also have to be economically viable. We need to be certain that they can remain in place in the long term.” A sustainable approach – as practised by companies that are, within their own range of activities, taking positive steps on the path to sustainability, independent of the larger political debate.

No detail is too small
As a rule, production waste is separated and recoverable materials are press compacted in separate categories at the factory for optimum disposal and recycling. However, even small technical details have a significant effect: the systematic optimisation of the compressed-air plant saves valuable energy in the production process.

Sustainable forms

“Design for design’s sake” is out of the question, both for Duravit and for our designers. This is because good design is not just about looks but also about practicality and sustainability. This applies equally to the materials used and to the form. After all, who wants design that comes with an expiry date? This is why Duravit doesn’t offer fashionable but timelessly modern forms for all its products and ranges.