Sustainable quality

LAUFEN manufactures products that allow water, a precious resource, to be used sparingly and therefore demonstrates its commitment to preserving natural resources. It therefore places priority on environmentally-friendly production, using energy and raw materials sparingly at all levels of production – from development to marketing. 

For example, LAUFEN reuses heat generated in the production process to dry the sanitary ware. In Austria, LAUFEN was awarded the "EMAS Environment Prize 2007" for its exemplary environmental management. The Swiss factory in Laufen has carried the label of the Swiss Energy Agency for Industry (EnAW) since 2006, which recognises it as a company which is actively committed to voluntary climate protection. LAUFEN also actively looks for environmentally friendly solutions for many of its products. The high gloss surface finish of the mimo range of bathroom furniture, for example, is made of recycled PET material. LAUFEN, however, also places a great deal of emphasis on making products of outstanding quality – as numerous internationally-recognised product certificates and standards testify. The Swiss Q-Plus symbol certifies compliance of our products with the European standard and the established more exacting Swiss standard. This is an important aspect for LAUFEN, as only durable, low-wear products deserve to be called environmentally-friendly – after all, avoidance comes before recycling. LAUFEN thus helps customers to live in harmony with the environment and reduce energy costs. Our products therefore also feature the latest energy and water-saving technologies, such as the newest generation of water-saving WCs: several LAUFEN toilets flush using an optional 4.5 or three litre dual flush system as opposed to six or three litre conventional WCs.

We also have particularly efficient urinals that require no more than 1 litre of water for flushing. For the public sector, we even have urinals with a special low-maintenance siphon: 0-litre solution. It goes without saying that, in the interests of sustainability, this catalogue is printed on FSC certified paper sourced from sustainable forest management.

The first two LAUFEN production facilities were successfully ISO 14001 certified and EMAS registered in 1997. Both of these factories were awarded the European Environment Prize 2007 for exemplary environmental management. All the LAUFEN production facilities are now certified with the Environmental and Quality Management Systems ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Since 1998, LAUFEN has continually monitored the use of resources in all its internal and external processes. Targeted measures and appropriate investments promote the efficient and sustainable use of manufacturing resources. Important key environmental protection indicators now clearly show that LAUFEN production sites fulfil the legally-prescribed environmental protection standards, and in most cases also exceed them.

Products with the Q-Plus certification meet both the European standard and the established more stringent Swiss suissetec/VSA standard. LAUFEN sanitary ware products meet these Swiss quality standards and have been recommended for approval accordingly.