Our Impact

Celebrating 150 Years of Kohler

Kohler’s 150^th anniversary celebrated our bold journey to this point, recognizing our 30,000 global associates that made this milestone possible.

Learn More

Leading Impact Globally

From conserving water and reducing emissions and waste to supporting local organizations, our associates innovate and lead projects to make a positive impact on our planet and communities.

Learn More

People
Planet
Water
WasteLAB
Art

Community impact programming is based on five areas of programming: access to clean water and sanitation, health and well-being services, environmental conservation, education, and support for the arts.

1/3

KOHLER_® Cleanse^™

Globally, 2.3 million people live without the means to safely wash their hands at home and 670 million people have no access to handwashing at all. In support of our commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and tapping into our innovation and expertise, Kohler developed KOHLER Cleanse, a hands-free handwashing faucet that requires no plumbing, no electricity, and no hands—the faucet provides water with just a simple lift of the wrist. Read more about KOHLER Cleanse and its impact here.

KOHLER Rinse^™

The KOHLER Rinse pour-flush toilet provides individuals with the comfort and dignity of a seated sanitation solution that does not require electricity or piped water, using a pour-flush activation system. Ideal for communities without a waste management infrastructure, KOHLER Rinse is adaptable to various sewer systems. Read more about KOHLER Rinse and its impact here.

KOHLER Loope^™

KOHLER Loope is a waterless toilet designed to bring safe sanitation to dense urban environments where the only toilet option is often away from homes, requires payment, and is locked at night. KOHLER Loope is a container-based sanitation (CBS) solution, a form of off-grid waste management where solid waste and urine are collected and disposed of or converted into a new product. Read more about KOHLER Loope and its impact here.

I-Prize Competition

The I-Prize Competition invites associates to propose new solutions to global challenges, with the potential for funding and integration into the business.

162 associates from 23 cities and 12 countries participated in 2023

40 I-Prize ideas were generated and 4 were awarded incubation funding in 2023

$165K in funding awarded in 2023; $1.2M awarded since 2018

Reducing Our Footprint

Since 2008, across global operations, we have reduced our carboon footprint by:

64% cut in GHG (Scope 1 & 2) intensity

66% cut in waste intensity

65% cut in water withdrawal intensity

Waste Management

Our multifaceted approach empowers all associates to drive waste reductions, from skilled innovation and operational improvements to eliminating single-use, plastic beverage bottles within 100% of Kohler-owned facilities.

Kohler eliminated over 3 million pounds of traditional packaging materials in 2023.

Cast Iron

Built to withstand the test of time, our cast iron products are made with a minimum of 80% recycled material and are available in a diverse array of styles and colors.

Water-Efficient Kitchen Faucets

Our portfolio of kitchen faucets in North America flow at 1.5 gpm, lower than the industry standard of 1.8 gpm to 2.2 gpm, helping our customers save water.

WaterSense^®-Labeled Products

In 2023 we added 120 new WaterSense-labeled products, which use less water without sacrificing performance, and Kohler Co. was recognized with its ninth WaterSense Sustainable Excellence Award.

Explore our WaterSense-labeled products

634 billion gallons of water saved

14.7 million metric tons of avoided CO² emissions associated with water use

$11.7 billion in energy and water utility bill savings for customers

50L Home Pilot Project Launch

Kohler is a founding member of the 50L Home coalition, which launched its first pilot in Los Angeles, providing products that reduce water consumption.

Conserving Water With KB Home

Kohler is partnering with national home builder KB Home to convert to more water-efficient toilets in all of their new residential homes moving forward.

Delivering Safe Water and Sanitation

There are more than 2 billion people without access to safe water (WHO) and 3.5 billion people without safe sanitation (UNICEF).

Kohler’s Safe Water for All programming leverages the expertise, global reach, and passion of associates to raise awareness and address the water crisis.

Water Stewardship

Kohler is committed to reducing the amount of water used in our operations. We continually assess our water footprint across the globe and strategically focus on addressing watersheds facing the highest risk.

In 2023, Kohler's conservation and wastewater use efforts to led to a reduction in water withdrawal intensity by 20%.

Favorites

Assessing Water Risks

Kohler completed in-depth risk assessments of priority locations and is investing in restoration projects that benefit the water our associates, facilities, and communities depend on.

Advocacy

At Kohler, we are helping to raise awareness of the intersection of climate change and the global water crisis through advocacy and key partnerships.

Nada Debs:
Inspiration to Transcendence

Sales of WasteLAB tiles have diverted 33.3 MT of waste since 2019.

WasteLAB Products

In 2023, WasteLAB more than doubled its associate count as Kohler continues to expand and invest in the business. All WasteLAB tile collections are constructed of nearly 100% repurposed manufacturing waste.

Crackle Collection

Crackle collection tiles are made using recycled material such as green cull, pottery wastewater sludge, cast iron slag, and waste glaze, all derived from Kohler operations.

Abstra^® Collection

Abstra tiles are made from recycled materials, diverting 6.7 metric tons of landfill-bound waste in 2023 alone.

Transcendence Collection

A collaboration between KOHLER WasteLAB and Nada Debs, the Transcendence collection focuses on wellness for people and planet and uses recycled materials from Kohler operations.

WasteLAB Vox^® Sink

The first KOHLER WasteLAB sink uses more than 70% repurposed landfill-bound waste, including vitreous cull, foundry dust, and foundry sand.

400+ applications per year

More than 588 Arts/Industry pieces in Kohler's collection

600 residencies to date

Introducing the First KOHLER MakerSpace Resident: David Franklin

David Franklin, a 2012 and 2015 Arts/Industry alumnus, returned to the Kohler campus to complete commissions for the new KOHLER_® Experience Center in Miami and Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.

Finished in traditional KOHLER glazes, Franklin’s fish compositions have a reflective streak of color that portrays both aquatic and human diversity as well as the union between artistry and industry.

Derring^®Bathroom Sink

18.02 by Janet Echelman

Botanical Study^™

Celebrating 150 Years of Kohler

Leading Impact Globally

Empowering People

This Is Kohler

Strengthening Communities

Innovation for Good^®

KOHLER_® Cleanse^™

KOHLER Rinse^™

KOHLER Loope^™

I-Prize Competition

Protecting the Planet

Reducing Our Footprint