Roca Sets Sustainability Benchmark with First Zero-Emission Ceramics Facility
Roca Group, the market-leading bathroom specialist, continues to advance its sustainability journey, setting new environmental standards for the industry. The group recently received the highest recognition from EcoVadis —the world’s most trusted provider of corporate sustainability ratings— earning the prestigious Platinum Medal. This places Roca Group among the top 1% of over 150,000 companies assessed globally for sustainability performance.
The Group exposes its evolution towards more prefabrication, easy connectivity and modularity
The global company with 78 factories and presence in more than 170 countries, has set a new environmental standard for sanitary ceramics production: in Gmunden, Austria, Roca Group is already operating the world’s first CO2-free production facility of sanitary ceramics with an electric tunnel kiln commissioned in 2023. Products manufactured there have attained Cradle to Cradle Certified® Circularity* at the Bronze level, making Roca Group the first company globally to achieve this certification.
Speaking at a press conference at the ISH international bathroom fair in Frankfurt, CEO Alberto Magrans highlighted Roca Group’s evolution towards specialisation by product verticals, the increasing role of prefabrication in construction, modularity and connectivity.
Roca CEO, Alberto Magrans
The future in construction: modular bathrooms
Magrans emphasized the group’s commitment to modular manufacturing systems through its global brands, Roca and Laufen, as a response to the growing demand for more efficient and sustainable construction. In line with this industry shift, the company continues to develop innovative solutions that integrate prefabrication to optimize resources and reduce environmental impact.
Innovation and Sustainability
At the same time, the group is conducting research with the scientific community in many areas: Age- appropriate bathroom solutions, water filtration, connectivity and IoT of products, personal and public sanitary hygiene and modular furnishing concepts for bathrooms, among others, are the group’s newly developed solutions at the fair.
Roca Marketing and Design Director, Marc Viardot
With its global brands, Roca and Laufen, the company covers all product verticals through Competence Centers to deliver total bathroom concepts. The group’s strength lies in its ability to master a diverse range of product categories and integrate them into complete bathroom.
Roca and Laufen: Form follows social relevance
For Marc Viardot, the group’s Marketing and Design Director, the high social relevance of the bathroom is the central theme of product development and design—much more than just design in the sense of ‘form follows function’. This philosophy evolves into ‘form follows social relevance’, which also guides his choice of designers. These include visionaries such as Yves Béhar, a top international brand and design consultant. The company is showcasing his study of a ceramic washbasin from the new e-Kiln, which is nothing less than ‘the reinvention of the washbasin,’ says Viardot.
International Brand and Design Consultant, Yves Béhar
During the press conference, three other renowned designers presented their products designed for Roca or Laufen, including Jeannette Altherr’s holistic bathroom concept Meridian and German designer Stefan Diez’s Kay range of faucets (both for Roca).
Jeannette Altherr, designer of Roca’s new Meridian collection
Swiss designer Peter Wirz explained the new Laufen Pro X bathroom – an example of Laufen’s democratic approach to design.
Peter Wirz, designer of the new Laufen Pro X bathroom
Roca: The Balance of Mediterranean Design
Rooted in the Mediterranean architecture heritage yet looking to the future, Roca presents an stand that embodies simplicity, warmth and technology. Inspired by the interplay of light, materiality and space, the concept reflects Roca’s commitment to design excellence, sustainability and innovation. Designed by the Barcelona based architecture firm Mesura, the stand seamlessly blends material honesty, environmental awareness, and a timeless architectural language, offering visitors an engaging and inspiring experience.
Stefan Diez, designer of Roca’s new Kay collection
Laufen: The Meeting point of waters
Designed by the Norwegian transdisciplinary studio Snøhetta guide the visitor through themed rooms known as Matter Spaces. The allows to experience how the brand tackles the challenges of modern bathroom architecture: With well thought-out system solutions at all levels – from individual products and prefabricated sanitary walls to fully installed bathrooms.
Laufen brand, the group’s premium flagship, always keeps the major issues of our time in mind while doing so: Conserving resources in production and use, intergenerational living, new hygiene standards and the integration of digital technologies.
*Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a registered trademark of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
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