Key vote brings EU water label scheme a ‘step closer’

A single labelling standard for water and energy efficiency for taps and showers across the EU is one step closer after a key industry vote to approve the scheme.

Of 70 European bathroom manufacturers and brands who attended the latest European Bathroom Forum (EBF) in Lisbon, the majority came to a Voluntary Agreement that a single standard would be best to help consumers make more informed choices about water-saving products and contribute to more responsible use of resources.

The scheme will be based on the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA)-backed Water Label, modified to improve distribution of information and visibility.

It will be presented by the European Association for the Taps and Valves Industry (CEIR) to the European Commission for approval.

The EBF, a platform set up by the European bathroom industry to push for a single water and energy standard to replace the current fragmented and confusing labelling system, said it would now work to improve visibility of the label with the target to reach 80% of taps and showers in the market.

This, it said, would meet with the European Commission’s requirement to validate the proposal.

Yvonne Orgill
Yvonne Orgill

BMA chief executive Yvonne Orgill commented: “Achieving a Voluntary Agreement is a huge task. We still have challenges to overcome, but there is clearly a great passion to achieve harmonisation throughout Europe.

“This latest development shows that the industry can come together and we are now one step closer to realising  our aim of  providing a recognised label that will  help consumers make more informed decisions and contribute to more responsible use of resources.”

The BMA has been instrumental in the campaign to introduce a single water standard across Europe, which it has argued will educate the bathroom buyer and help to substantially reduce domestic water use.

 

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