Unified Water Label: latest updates

On 18 February 2020, FECS hosted the European Bathroom Forum (EBF) meeting in Brussels. A voluntary and flexible scheme to measure the water and energy consumption of bathroom products, the Unified Water Label (UWL) brings together four certification schemes to help consumers decide on the most water and energy efficient product.

The meeting gathered more than 25 stakeholders and manufacturers from the sanitaryware and bathroom industry to discuss and draw the next steps of the UWL. Yvonne Orgill, UWL Managing Director and Carlos Velazquez, EBF Chairman provided an update on the last activities carried out in the framework of the UWL development and outcomes of the Eco-Design Consultation Forum. Today, the scheme gathers 157 registered brands with more than 12.000 product registrations representing 62% of market share. Among the products registered in the scheme, 35% are ceramic sanitaryware appliances.

In the context of the European Green Deal, EBF stakeholders highlighted that the Unified Water Label can play a major role as a supportive tool. In 2020, main priorities will focus on raising awareness and visibility by encouraging a greater use of the UWL as well as to increase market representation to achieve 80% of units sold in order to get a voluntary label. FECS, alongside the EBF and other partners, is committed to working towards securing an adoption of the label across 80% of the market.

The next meeting of the EBF will take place on 15 July 2020 in Milan.