Q. How important is sustainability when it comes to new bathroom designs?

Louise: Bathrooms have become a major focus for hoteliers looking not only to reduce costs but also to minimise their environmental impact. This has thrown up several opportunities for designers, developers and builders to create a more eco-aware environment. During the Geberit product development process, all Geberit products are optimised with regard to their environmental friendliness, resource efficiency and durability.

Toni: One important feature of the Duravit brand is sustainable, original product design and the ongoing search for perfect aesthetics with absolute attention to detail. Product design is clearly rooted in basic archetypal forms. It is reduced, timeless, elementary and modern but not fashionable. [It’s about] products you can appreciate for a long time.

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Jane: Sustainability has become of growing importance in the hotel industry. It is also at the forefront of Aliaxis’ value proposition. Not only third-party international certificates (e.g. Singapore Green Building Certificate) prove Aliaxis engagement, but also the continuous research on how to provide hotel owners with an energy efficient product supply, such as decreasing water consumption.

Karen: Sustainability has been a key issue for Kohler over the past eight years. In the Middle East region where water is relatively scarce, it’s even more important for Kohler. We have actively participated in the new water consumption policy in Saudi Arabia and developed specific products to accommodate this new regulation. We also engage with a certification process in Estimada in Abu Dhabi to demonstrate our determination to be part of the corporate social responsibility movement.

Sophay: In the Middle East we have most certainly seen an increase in sales of products focusing on sustainable and intelligent usage of water. This trend to move towards greener buildings has added to our strength in project supply in recent years. All our brassware can be supplied with flow reducers to meet standards set out by LEED and Estidama.

Adnan: Wood is typically considered a natural material that scores the highest points for sustainability, but natural stones like marble and granite have some impressive credentials of their own. Yes, stones can last a lifetime too, meaning a bathroom floor does not have to be replaced every few years, therefore not impacting on the Earth’s resources (and ultimately, saving money), but two factors need foremost attention: good care and correct installation. As with most operations for sustainable projects, green fit-out work requires a large amount of planning before work can commence. We have, therefore, adopted the use of modern dust collectors to tackle dust pollution, LED lightings to save electrical consumption, recycling plant for the water used in the quarrying process and also the leftover stones to create pebbles, to provide sustainable solutions.