• Water savings for 1 million people annually from water re-use
• Carbon emissions per unit of 1.3 million trees equivalent
• Innovative high tech designs that reduce and nudge consumer behaviour

Eczacıbaşı Buildings Products Bathroom Division (‘EBD’), Turkey's first and largest producer and exporter of ceramic sanitary ware, is pleased to present its Sustainability Report for 2021. Formerly communicating under the aegis of its parent Eczacıbaşı Group’s sustainability reporting, EBD has taken up the challenge of producing a stand-alone, GRI-compliant Sustainability Report for the first time.

EBD is owned by Turkey’s leading industrial group Eczacıbaşı Holding, a building products, consumer products and healthcare conglomerate with 46 companies, over 12,000 employees and combined net sales of EUR 1.5 billion in 2021. A market leader in Turkey, Eczacıbaşı has sales to over 75 countries providing bathroom and tiling solutions for homes and commercial venues through its VitrA, Burgbad, Villeroy & Boch (tiles) and Engers brands on five continents.

Targets on water, emissions and waste

EBD’s water savings for 2021 from re-use in its production equalled the annual water use of about 1 million people. Carbon emissions per unit produced decreased by 8 percent for the same period, a saving which could otherwise only be offset by planting 1.3 million trees. Overall, its production output has increased by 22 percent in the past 3 years, whereas its total industrial waste has increased by only 13.9 percent, and industrial waste per ton has decreased by 5.7 percent.

EBD is tackling water and energy savings through innovative designs that encourage consumers to use less water such as touch-free fixtures that can reduce water consumption by up to 90 percent, its BlueEco Technology and its Aquaheat Technology for constant hot water. All of its basin mixers are equipped with water saving features in line with European standards and currently two thirds of VitrA branded basin mixers reduce water consumption from 12 to 5 litres per minute as standard thereby achieving 60 percent water savings.

The Group has set a target of obtaining up to a third of its electricity from solar energy by 2025. Currently EBD is focusing on dozens of projects that enable waste heat recovery, using natural light and LED lighting and upgrading and digitizing their facilities to enable more efficient consumption of heat.

Climate Change risks

EBD’s CEO Özgen Özkan commented, “We respect planetary boundaries and work hard to eliminate our environmental footprint. In line with circular economy principles, we strive to use resources as efficiently as possible, extending the longevity of our products, and increasing their share of nature-friendly materials.

We have chosen our material topics as care for nature, design with purpose, working for a better future, and thriving on cultural and institutional advancement. Our 2021 Sustainability Report will elaborate on these four pillars and how we are working to turn them into actionable targets.”

The Eczacıbaşı Group has been publishing consolidated sustainability reports for the past 15 years since 2007 and is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, The Turkish Business Council for Sustainable Development and is a signatory to the Copenhagen and Cancun Communiques, in addition to the Business World Plastic Initiative.

EBD’s Sustainability Report is sets out its economic, environmental and social performance with its stakeholders in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (‘GRI’) Standards ‘core option’ which requires organizations to include only important elements in their sustainability reports. The report also takes into consideration the ‘Stakeholder Capitalism Sustainable Value Creation Reporting Criteria’ set forth by the World Economic Forum and the findings of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

Notes to Editors:

About Eczacıbaşı Buildings Products Bathroom Division

Turkey’s first and largest producer and exporter of ceramic sanitary ware, Eczacıbaşı Building Products (also known as the Bathroom Division) began producing VitrA branded ceramic sanitary ware in 1958, Artema faucets in 1983, VitrA bathroom furniture, bathtubs and shower trays in 1991, and Artema bathroom accessories in 1995. The company designs many of these products in-house and also collaborates with renowned international designers and studios.

https://www.eczacibasi.com.tr/en/brands/companies-building-products

About Eczacıbaşı Holding

Founded in 1942 Eczacıbaşı is one Turkey’s leading industrial groups active in its core sectors of building products, consumer products and healthcare. It also has interests in information technology, natural resources, and property development. In Turkey, Eczacıbaşı is the leader in most of its businesses with some of the most effective distribution networks in the country for building products, pharmaceuticals, and fast-moving consumer goods. Globally, Eczacıbaşı has established itself among the world’s top providers of bathroom and tiling solutions for homes and commercial venues with its VitrA, Burgbad, Villeroy and Boch (Tiles), and Engers brands. It is also a major exporter of tissue paper, electronic smart cards and industrial raw materials such as clay and feldspar. The Eczacıbaşı Group has 46 companies, over 12,000 employees and combined net sales of EUR 1.5 billion in 2021.