You have probably come across the term “circular economy.” This means that everything gets reused, reducing the burden on the planet’s resources. The circular economy aims to minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and create a closed-loop system where materials and products are continuously reused, refurbished, and recycled, according to the article The Circular Economy and its Application in Plumbing. The plumbing industry, with its significant impact on water consumption and materials usage, is a crucial industry for embracing these principles.
Some plumbing manufacturers are already working towards offering products that meet circularity principles. For instance, Hansgrohe’s Pulsify Planet edition hand shower is designed with a holistic approach. The three-function hand shower reduces water flow—it uses 60% less water than Hansgrohe’s conventional models. Incorporating circular economy principles, the handle is made of recycled plastic, using a unique process for extracting raw material. The hand shower is manufactured chrome free with recyclable raw materials.
The plumbing industry has come a long way in the past 15 years, and evolution will continue. I hope this article sparked curiosity and you decide to investigate some of the technologies mentioned.