We at Waterstone pride ourselves on our inherent will to protect the environment with sustainable, green manufacturing processes. From the beginning, our goal has always been to create the highest quality plumbing products without prioritizing profit over the planet. Waterstone is keenly aware of the effects that many industrial manufacturing processes have on our ailing environment. As a result, our owner and CEO, Chris Kuran, has made it a point to ensure that Waterstone leads the industry in green and sustainable methods. Kuran attended the United State Naval Academy and served in the US Marines, where he became intimately familiar with ocean and its many essential functions. He garnered a love for the sea that not only motivated him to protect it, but continues to inspire product design and development. To this day, Chris Kuran and his family find immense joy in the captivating beauty of the Pacific Ocean and its scenic coastlines.
Chris Kuran and the Waterstone team understand that small manufacturers play an enormous role in not only setting an example of green, sustainable, manufacturing practices for other companies, but also in helping to preserve and protect our planet’s resources. Due to the clear environmental impact of larger companies that produce carbon emissions and toxic waste, the impact of the net sum of pollutants contributed by smaller manufacturers is often overlooked. With a corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Southern California, Waterstone happily abides by California’s environmentally conscious manufacturing code. In fact, California manufacturers like us comply with the most stringent environmental regulations in the United States. However, many of the practices required by law have been part of Waterstone’s ethos since our inception – ensuring that every resource is used, re-used, and recycled or disposed of ethically. Our products comply with Cal-Green (California Green Building Standards Code), CEC (California Energy Commission), and meet or exceed NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) standards.
A Focus on Green Manufacturing
Waterstone prioritizes the environment in a multitude of ways, many of which are observed within our meticulous manufacturing methods. At our manufacturing facility in Murrieta, California, we use CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machining to maximize efficiency and when buying new CNC and polishing equipment, we utilize 480-volt machinery, which consumes less energy and results in the same quality. Waterstone also uses low toxicity plating, polishing, finishing and coatings. We employ the Trivalent Chrome plating process, which is less toxic and more environmentally friendly than traditional hexavalent chrome plating.
Recycling and Responsible Waste Management
We proudly practice a zero-waste process; nothing goes down the drain. All liquid waste from our finishing and CNC processes is reduced through an evaporative technique and is then handed off for treatment and processing by qualified companies. Even our testing stations utilize water that is filtered and recycled. Our manufacturing process results in brass shavings, which we melt down and recycle. In fact, we recycle 99% of our brass and steel chips. Used parts are also recycled with care. Our thoughtful approach to recycling and disposal minimizes heavy metal waste and conserves energy and is a large part of what makes our process sustainable.
Green Earth, Clean Air
We take a number of measures to minimize our carbon footprint as we manufacture and distribute our products. All Waterstone brass and Stainless Steel is purchased from American distributors, so our materials aren’t shipped exorbitant distances. For years, we have given our customers the option to bundle their products into one box, made to fit a full faucet suite. This practice enables us to minimize shipments (and therefore carbon emissions) and reduce the volume of packaging materials that are sent for further recycling, or worse, sent to a land fill.
Sustainabile Packaging
It’s not just our packaging and shipping process that supports our green cause; our packaging material also goes the extra mile. Waterstone’s packaging is made from 70/30 material, meaning that it is made from 70% recycled material combined with 30% virgin material. The foam inserts that protect our products during distribution are made of recyclable urethane material. Once recycled, the urethane becomes a necessary component and is used to make hundreds of other products including mattresses, carpet padding, exercise mats, or sneakers. Recently, we have implemented a sustainability best-practice by minimizing ink and color-coating of our packaging, opting instead to leave the cardboard its natural color.
As Waterstone continues to grow and produce artisanal, one-of-a-kind fixtures, so does our potential footprint. Now, more than ever, we are pushing upward with our best foot forward. We aim to ensure that our manufacturing processes, distribution methods, and product attributes respect the Earth, as well as protect water quality. Waterstone will continue to find ways to reduce waste and emissions, ensure that our brass is of the highest standard, and fight for a cleaner and greener community.
Due to our consistent growth we have had to increase our factory square footage, and then once again, add more office space. Each time we grow we do so in an energy efficient manner. All new appliances and air conditioning are Energy Star compliant, all lighting is LED, bathroom fixtures are water conserving and meet California low flow standards. At Waterstone we consistently look for ways to reduce our energy footprint while improving our facilities. We at Waterstone want to emphasize that we take our conservation and environmentally-focused efforts seriously, and we hope you do too.
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