Innovation and sustainability
First sanitary ceramic manufacturer to become a member of the German Sustainable Building Council / Quality seal for exemplary construction concepts / Aim: using information exchange for accelerating product innovations / Cooperation in working group for product certification
Ratingen. Keramag AG (Ratingen) is the first German manufacturer of sanitary ceramics to become a member of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). Gerhard Franek, a qualified engineer and head of special projects at Keramag, stated in a press release: ‘With this, the company, as the market leader in manufacturing ceramic products for private bathrooms and public and commercial washing and toilet facilities, is reinforcing its sustainability-oriented corporate philosophy, which is reflected in the company slogan that has been used for several years: “We create lasting values”’.
The aim of the DGNB, which was founded in 2007, is to be the driving force behind promoting sustainability in the planning, construction and use of buildings. Together with the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, the DGNB has developed a German quality seal for sustainable building, which is awarded to particularly environmentally friendly buildings that save resources, are economically efficient and optimised for user comfort. The association currently has 832 members, including architects, engineers, construction companies, manufacturers of bathroom products, investors, builders, operators, utility companies, waste-disposal companies, non-governmental organisations and scientific and testing institutes.
According to Gerhard Franek, Keramag wants to use its membership to pass on the company’s comprehensive expertise in sanitary planning and implementation by actively participating in various committees, as well as exchange information with experts from various specialties and use this in developing its own sustainable products. Product certification is also one of the projects to be supported. Dr Ronald Herkt, head of project sales at Keramag AG, will be the company’s representative in DGNB working groups.
