Showers and taps, with new technologies water consumption halved

The evolution of technologies also affects sanitary ware, which is evolving to use less water, lowering the average to 4.5 litres for maximum volume. In addition, 'dual flush' models are becoming more popular, allowing the choice of using either 6 or 4.5 litres at a time.

But the use of taps, mixers, showerheads and sanitary fixtures does not only imply the consumption of water. we know very well that in order to allow this water to arrive in our homes in the quantity and at the temperature we desire, a lot of electricity is also required. Italian companies have been investing in research for years to try to cut down on this type of consumption as well, which also has the side effect of emitting carbon dioxide. Some companies have in fact developed solutions that cut CO2 emissions by up to 835 kg per year, for a family of four, thanks to energy-efficient showers. Others have adopted more gradual choices, such as reducing lead in products to less than 0.25%, or reducing the raw materials used through more minimalist aesthetics.

The sector as a whole is migrating towards green energy sources and carbon-neutral infrastructures, enhancing on-site production and companies that manufacture 90 per cent of their products locally, explains the research carried out for the Salone del Mobile. Energy waste is also being cut down thanks to nanotechnology integrated into radiator paints, systems that distribute hot water only when really necessary, and smart toilets capable of optimising water and energy consumption with a simple tap on the smartphone, via app.

This great effort undertaken by Italian and European companies to make their products more sustainable can also become a significant competitive factor in an increasingly competitive international market. What is lacking, however, to date is an internationally recognised label certifying the higher quality and sustainability of one product over another. Hence the decision of FederlegnoArredo's Assobagno, the association representing the leading Italian manufacturers of bathroom furniture and articles, to sign an agreement with the Unified Water Label Association (Uwla) to promote water-saving labelling in the bathroom sector.

"In the last ten years there has been a great evolution in technology: once traditional mixers consumed 12 litres per minute,' explains Assobagno vice-president Mattia Florindo. Today we are down to 5 litres, more than halving consumption. Now the challenge is to obtain an instrument that identifies this water-saving capacity of our products, particularly taps and sanitary ware'.

At present, there is no international labelling system comparable, for example, to those on energy saving, nor is there a regulated standard that makes clear to the user the characteristics not so much of economic savings (small, compared to electricity costs) as of sustainability.

The partnership with Uwla aims precisely at spreading the 'Unified Water Label' among Italian companies, thus laying the foundation for a more sustainable environmental footprint in the sector. The label provides clear and standardised information on the water and energy consumption of bathroom products, with the aim of encouraging the widespread adoption of water-efficient products.