Protecting the environment with Geberit ceramics

Geberit is now supporting a forest protection project of the Swiss foundation myclimate in Tanzania. With this voluntary contribution, the company is offsetting the unavoidable CO2 emissions generated in the production of ceramics. All ceramic products from the Geberit ONE, Acanto, Xeno2, iCon, Smyle and VariForm bathroom series have been part of this initiative since the beginning of 2023.

Environmental awareness is paramount at Geberit. The company is committed to resource-saving and environmentally conscious production. The production of ceramics is a resource- and energy-intensive process. Both the procurement of raw materials and the production and transport of ceramics cause CO2 emissions. Through technological innovations, Geberit succeeds in continuously reducing CO2 emissions in ceramic production. Geberit takes responsibility for the unavoidable emissions generated in the value chain and voluntarily supports a forest protection project of the Swiss foundation myclimate, which reduces CO2 emissions in Tanzania, through the purchase of CO2 certificates.

For the climate, it is not important exactly where CO2 emissions are generated or avoided. Therefore, emissions generated in one place can be offset by reducing them in another place. This offsetting takes place through so-called CO2 certificates. The basis is a transparent and verifiable calculation of the actual amount of CO2 emitted by a product or service.

Forests store CO2 efficiently. At the same time, they provide a stable groundwater supply and biodiversity. This is why Geberit is committed to protecting forests in the Yaeda Valley in Tanzania. Here, virgin forests stretch over an area of 34,000 hectares. This area is home to numerous protected animal species, including lions, cheetahs and leopards, elephants, giraffes, zebras and gazelles. However, illegal logging and poaching take their toll on the forests and the animals that live there. The Yaeda Valley is also home to the Hadza and Datooga communities. Their traditional way of life as guardians of the forest is also threatened by encroaching agriculture and intensive cattle ranching.

Together with the myclimate foundation, Geberit supports both the conservation of the forest and the people, who live near it. 12 communities in the Yaeda Valley receive financial support and assistance in legal matters to effectively prevent illegal land use and poaching. They form patrol teams and increase surveillance in the area. Training in forestry and agro-ecological methods enables local people to manage the forest sustainably. The money from the purchased carbon certificates is also used for medical care for the local population. In this way, the project protects the forest resource and improves the living conditions of the local population.

myclimate is a non-profit foundation for comprehensive climate protection solutions. Among other things, it supports and develops in-house climate protection projects according to the highest quality standards (Plan Vivo, Gold Standard, VCS (incl. CBB resp. SD-VISta)).

The CO2 emissions of Geberit sanitary ceramics have been transparently calculated and verifiably included in publicly accessible environmental product declarations (EPD). The sanitary ceramics covered by this initiative - Geberit ONE, Acanto, Xeno2, iCon, Smyle and VariForm - will be available from the beginning of 2023 in the following countries: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. Geberit will bear the entire cost of the financial contribution itself. The costs will not be passed on to customers.

More information: www.geberit.nl/co2certificaat