Oras Group reinforces its commitment to environmental responsibility by obtaining EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) for nearly a third of its products sold in Finland. With 784 products certified, Oras covers about 30 percent of its Finnish product range, excluding spare parts and accessories.
Oras is also a pioneer in calculating the lifecycle emissions of its products, even though EPDs do not yet require this. These calculations reveal that most of a faucet or shower's carbon footprint occurs during its use, not manufacturing.
"During manufacturing, we can only influence about 10 percent of the carbon footprint. Therefore, considering the use phase is essential to understand the true environmental impacts," says Mika Malo, responsible for Oras Group's product information management.
A chocolate bar or a faucet? Both have similar environmental impacts
"The carbon footprint of faucet manufacturing is comparable to that of a chocolate bar, two t-shirts, or a 50 km car ride. This includes everything from manufacturing to raw material transportation. One person produces the same amount of emissions multiple times a day," says Malo.
Oras Group aims to make all its products as environmentally friendly and energy efficient as possible.
"We are constantly developing new ways to reduce the flow rate and usage time of faucets and showers. The less hot water flows through the product, the smaller its carbon footprint over its lifecycle," Malo reminds us.
Touchless faucets are a prime example of Oras Group's environmentally conscious product design. They consume up to half the energy of traditional faucets because they dispense water only when hands are beneath them.
An EPD comprises a comprehensive array of third-party verified information about the product.
Market pressure drives environmental responsibility
While regulations will tighten in the future, market pressure already directs companies towards environmentally responsible actions. EPDs are becoming increasingly important criteria in construction projects and consumer purchasing decisions.
European Union regulations and national requirements will tighten, making EPDs mandatory for consumers and businesses at different times.
"Market pressure demands EPDs. For example, in Oslo, all products installed in buildings have been required to have EPDs since the beginning of 2023," notes Malo.