As KBIS 2025 gets closer, KBB is taking a deeper dive into long-time exhibitor TOTO’s environmental mission. We spoke to Jarrett Oakley, director of marketing, about the company’s core values and received details on TOTO’s sustainable products.
Since 1917, the brand’s philosophy has been, “As We Have Been, So We Will Always Be,” which was developed from the founder’s vision: “To provide a healthy, dignified way of life and protect the Earth’s natural resources.”
Above photo: NEOREST NX Smart Bidet Toilet
To support these principles, TOTO has set a number of goals so it can reach the ultimate one of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In the meantime, the company will reduce CO₂ emissions from its operations by 47.5% and cut CO₂ emissions from product usage by 50%, as compared to 2021 levels for both goals. By 2040, TOTO will transition to 100% renewable energy across all operations, ensuring every innovation aligns with its environmental goals.
Sustainable Products
TOTO’s sustainable products have earned such certifications as WaterSense, CALGreen and LEED v4.1, as well as the International WELL Building Institute certifications. According to Oakley, the brand believes that luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive goals for its products; they must be interwoven. He highlighted some of TOTO’s revolutionary sustainable offerings, including its high-performance, high-efficiency toilets, which offer such technologies as the 1.28 or 1.0 GPF TORNADO Flushing System for single-flush toilets and the CEFIONTECT nanotechnology bowl glaze.
Oakley also noted the NEOREST smart bidet toilets, which use only 1.0 gallons for a full flush and 0.8 gallons for a light flush. TOTO created the luxury bidet seat more than 40 years ago, and continues to innovate with its WASHLET bidet seats. Oakley says this product line is sustainability in action, as it reduces the need to use toilet paper by 75%.
Guinevere High-Efficiency 1.28 GPF Toilet
“This reduction in usage really takes a different light when you think about how much water it takes to produce a single roll of toilet paper – 37 gallons, according to Scientific American,” he added. “It really opens people’s eyes, and they know they are helping the environment and also receiving an unparalleled sense of hygiene and performance.
TOTO also offers ECOPOWER, which harnesses the power of running water to run faucets and flush valves. This technology eliminates the need for disposable batteries or hard wiring, which Oakley says is a major source of waste in our society. He noted that when the power went off earlier this year at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the only thing working in the terminals was TOTO’s commercial plumbing fixtures that were using ECOPOWER.
Going Even Further in the Name of Sustainability
The brand believes that environmental product declarations and lifestyle lifecycle assessments are vital.
“In fact, TOTO was the first manufacturer in the plumbing industry to conduct lifecycle assessments and in turn publish transparency reports or environmental product declarations in 2013,” said Oakley. “This approach provides a transparent view of our products, their environmental footprint and their composition, allowing customers, the design-build community and other key stakeholders to understand a product’s impact over its lifespan.
TOTO is also involved in various water conservation initiatives and learned that collaboration early on was important to move the industry and the brand forward. The brand is the only plumbing manufacturer to be named an EPA water-efficiency leader and continues to be a collaborator with its WaterSense Program.
“TOTO developed the performance criteria for water-efficiency products while ensuring that our toilets, faucets and showers are tested again by that third party to earn the WaterSense label,” said Oakley. “When they see that label, everyone knows what it means, as it’s become an industry gold standard.”
TOTO is also a member of the US EPA Alliance for Water Efficiency, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water. The company collaborates with more than 500 stakeholders to improve water efficiency worldwide and raise public awareness by investing in educating consumers.
ECOPOWER Exposed Flush Valve on a TOTO Commercial Toilet
Mindful Manufacturing
Being a sustainable company goes beyond just offering sustainable products; the way they are made can also play a huge part. Oakley says TOTO sources all its electricity from renewable sources.
“We really are committed to a green manufacturing process and operate production facilities that incorporate advanced energy- and water-saving technologies,” he explained “We also employ processes to minimize waste during the manufacturing process.”
TOTO’s supply chain is a big focus for reducing its carbon footprint and promoting energy efficiency. The brand collaborates with its suppliers to reduce environmental impacts as a component of its lifecycle assessment. By building a robust supplier code of conduct, TOTO can mandate a strict adherence to environmental management and sustainability guidelines.
“We have also developed well-defined green procurement standards with our suppliers and make sure they’re sourcing responsibly through regular audits,” said Oakley. “We only work with suppliers that share our vision.”
WASHLET S7A bidet seat
Client Sustainability Buy-In
We asked Oakley if today’s homeowners are also embracing the idea of conserving water and energy. He said TOTO’s read is that it is less about sustainability within the manufacturing process but more on installing products that can contribute to the positive end goal.
“They want to buy and consume products that speak within their ethos and their values,” he added. “They also want to use products that align with a corporate value mission like ours. Our target audience knows they have an active role to play in this.”
Oakley says he is inspired by where the industry is right now and where TOTO company wants to go.
“If you can articulate that luxury and sustainability can live as one, there will be better adoption,” he added. “All manufacturers have a role to play in this, and KBIS is a great platform and gathering to show off what our vision is for the future.”