Housebuilders and developers are facing increasing pressure to make every component of a home more sustainable; a crucial area that deserves more focus is the bathroom, says Sophie Weston from Geberit.

Bathrooms are responsible for a significant share of a home’s water and energy use – yet they are often overlooked in the wider ‘net zero’ conversation. If we are serious about reducing emissions, conserving resources, and creating homes that are genuinely future ready, we must start designing bathrooms with a more sustainable mindset.

Water scarcity

The UK may not always feel like a water stressed nation, but appearances are deceptive. The Environment Agency has warned that parts of the country may face water shortages within the next 20 years, unless significant action is taken. For housebuilders and developers, that means integrating water saving technologies into homes is not just environmentally responsible, it is increasingly essential for compliance and resilience.

Toilets, showers and taps are some of the biggest contributors to daily water use. On average, a traditional, full flush toilet uses 13 litres of water per flush, and older models even more. With dual flush systems, rimless designs, and improved flushing technologies now available, it’s possible to drastically cut water usage without compromising hygiene or performance. 

Even relatively small improvements in water efficiency, when scaled across new housing developments, can have a meaningful impact on national consumption levels.

Rethinking the role of the bathroom

There’s also a cultural shift taking place in how we view bathrooms. Once purely functional, bathrooms are now seen as personal wellbeing spaces, even in modestly sized homes. This shift is pushing those in residential built environment to find ways to combine performance, comfort, and sustainability within tight footprints.

That’s no easy task, especially when UK homes have shrunk by around 20% over the past four decades. In this context, solutions that both save space and promote resource efficiency, such as wall hung toilets with concealed cisterns, are gaining traction. Manufacturers are trying to meet this demand. These systems not only enhance the visual openness of a small bathroom but also support flexible installation and long-term maintenance access.

Circular design & product longevity

A key principle in sustainable construction is designing for longevity, and bathrooms are no exception. Durability, modularity, and ease of repair are all essential to reducing waste and lowering the environmental burden of frequent replacement.

Specifying products with long lifespans and accessible spare parts can extend a bathroom’s usability well beyond the typical refresh cycle. This also supports a more circular approach to housing. One where components can be repaired, upgraded, or reused rather than discarded.

Systems that allow future adaptations, such as accessible bathroom conversions or energy efficient upgrades, also make homes more flexible and therefore more sustainable in the long run.

Tackling the unseen impact

Water isn’t the only resource under pressure. Toilet paper usage carries its own environmental cost, from deforestation and water pollution to energy consumption in production and transport. While some homeowners are exploring alternatives such as bidet functions or shower toilets, the broader point remains: everyday habits in the bathroom can have a hidden but substantial impact on a home’s overall sustainability. Similarly, electrical components in modern bathroom fixtures must be balanced with energy efficiency. 

Manufacturers are increasingly responding by integrating economy modes, standby settings, and smart sensors to ensure performance doesn’t come at the cost of high power consumption. This kind of holistic thinking is what will define truly sustainable bathroom design in the years ahead.

A wider responsibility

Beyond individual homes, the housing sector has a role to play in driving awareness around sustainable living. Homeowners are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their choices, but they also need systems that enable sustainable behaviour without requiring lifestyle sacrifices.

That’s where design plays a powerful role. Bathrooms that are intuitive, low maintenance, and resource-efficient help embed sustainable habits into daily life. From reducing the need for harsh cleaning chemicals to making water saving the default rather than the exception, thoughtful design has the power to normalise sustainability.

Looking forward

As net zero deadlines draw nearer, every square metre of a home must contribute to carbon reduction goals, and the bathroom is no exception. Developers, architects, and manufacturers must continue working together to improve water and energy efficiency, embed circular principles, and rethink how space is used.

Sophie Weston is head of marketing at Geberit