Bathroom industry urged to help tackle climate change

The Unified Water Label Association (UWLA) has called on the bathroom industry to play its part in tackling climate change, following the release of a landmark study from the United Nations (UN) that claims human activity is changing the climate in unprecedented and irreversible ways.

The new report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that a warming climate has made irreversible changes to many of our planetary support systems. It reports that the dangers of warming our planet are no longer something distant, impacting people in faraway places. According to Dr Friederike Otto from the University of Oxford, one of the many authors: “Climate change is not a problem of the future, it’s here and now and affecting every region in the world.”

UWLA managing director Yvonne Orgill says, “We welcome this report and hope that it serves as a wake-up call for the bathroom industry. Climate change is happening here and now and can no longer be ignored. We all have a responsibility to play our part and get behind the industry led Unified Water Label, which can make a real difference.”

Orgill’s comments come after the UK Government recently announced plans to bring in a mandatory water efficiency label. “The link between water, energy and carbon is one that we have highlighted in our recent campaigns to promote the Unified Water Label,” she says. “Our new website includes an energy and a carbon calculator that can calculate how much energy is used when water is heated, and how much relative carbon is used when changing to a product that uses less water.

“With our European partners we have been working with those involved in designing, manufacturing, selling, installing and purchasing water using bathroom products, to provide them with the tools they need to help consumers understand the issues around water scarcity, and the link with energy and carbon emissions. We have the products, but we need to do more work to help people understand the impact of their water consumption and nudge them towards positive behaviour change.”

The UWLA is launching a new campaign to coincide with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which takes place in Glasgow on October 31 – November 12. The campaign’s aim is to encourage the bathroom industry to “seek out UWL labelled products and help drive home the message that if we reduce water wastage, we can have a positive impact on the environment,” Orgill explains. “Those interested in finding out how they can become involved by supporting the UWLA or joining our campaign can find out more at www.uwla.eu.”

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