VitrA, the Turkish manufacturer of sanitaryware, bathroom furniture, brassware and ceramic tiles, says it has developed the world’s first wash basin made entirely of recycled manufacturing waste.
The company says the innovation reduces global warming potential of its production by 30% per product, transforming materials once considered waste into valuable resources.
“We are determined to maximize our contribution to the circular economy,” says Özgen Özkan, CEO of VitrA. “By integrating circular design principles and innovative business models, we’ve begun repurposing waste from our ceramic sanitary ware production. This approach allows us to conserve natural resources, reduce environmental impacts and cut carbon dioxide emissions, all while managing costs and material constraints more effectively. Our 100% recycled washbasin embodies our dedication to resource efficiency, waste reduction, and a stronger circular economy.”
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VitrA created the washbasin by utilizing/repurposing waste materials, including discarded ceramics, from its production process. Developed at the VitrA production campus in Bozüyük, Türkiye, this product has been designed to have minimum environmental impact. The unit is available in matt beige and in five distinct shapes, but it eventually will feature additional products and colours.
The company says the product’s Life Cycle Assessment, conducted in accordance with ISO standards, demonstrated that the use of waste materials led to almost 30% improvement in global warming potential. This sustainable manufacturing resulted in approximately 5 kilograms of raw material savings per product, a 36% improvement and a 2.48-kWh reduction in electricity usage per product, reflecting a 38% enhancement, due to the decreased reliance on raw materials.
“These new washbasins benefit from VitrA Hygiene technology and we are advancing our research and development efforts to incorporate recycled materials into the glazing process,” Özkan says. “With an eye on expanding our sustainable product portfolio, we’re exploring new designs and applications, from packaging to branding with new icons, all made from recycled materials derived from our own production waste.”
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VitrA explains that the circular economy’s primary goal is to repurpose recyclable materials into environmentally responsible designs rather than letting them go to waste. The production phase of the recycled washbasin, designed by recycling waste in line with VitrA’s sustainable development goals, is an innovative circular design story and resembles a tale of rebirth.
The washbasin adds a brand new dimension to the circular economy, the brand adds, as the first ceramic washbasin in its category produced by recycling of production waste – except for the addition of hygienic glaze.
VitrA Recycled Washbasin, the first and only in the world, reflecting VitrA’s innovative vision, provides energy saving as well as resource efficiency. In addition to being eco-friendly, the washbasins adds a completely different atmosphere to bathrooms with its matte beige colour and five designs–round, rectangular, oval, TV and asymmetrical TV forms, the company says.