GROHE PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Patrick Speck, The Leader LIXIL Global Design EMENA at GROHE, talks about the importance of health, well-being, and sustainability in the hospitality sector
Well-being has become a global movement. How do you define this?
This can be defined by the fact that consumers want to take good care of their health and well-being to live better lives, that are also more sustainable and better for the environment. Especially now, the bathroom is understood as a deliberate contrast to the hectic world outside, it has become an oasis of well-being, a personal retreat for body and soul. This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that consumers expect more from their bathroom products: they should create precisely those special moments.
COVID-19 has changed our thinking process like never making health and well-being a priority. What kind of transformation can you see at GROHE and in your industry?
The year 2020, has left a major impact on many industries across the world, especially the industry of hygiene and sanitisation. People are looking to recreate well-being experiences in the comfort of their homes while ensuring the highest hygiene standards. At GROHE, we can say that we are already experiencing a higher demand for our hygiene enhancing products – from both our private and business customers.
What are the consumer’s new expectations in the pandemic context in terms of hygiene and how can a brand like GROHE fulfill those needs?
Touching surfaces is not an attractive option anymore. With our wide range of touchless and hands-free products, like the infra-red faucet GROHE Essence E or the kitchen faucet GROHE SmartControl, we have the right response to this increased need of hygiene as they minimise the risk of spreading germs and cross-contamination.
How do you see this shift towards hygiene and well-being affecting the hospitality sector?
The COVID-19 pandemic has highly affected the hospitality sector considering travel restrictions and safety measures that were imposed in many countries around the world. People are eager to be able to travel again, but in the new normal, travellers and guests are prioritising safety and hygiene when choosing their accommodation creating new needs that hotels will have to meet.
Do you think the design of the hotels needs to change as well? If yes, then how?
Yes, adaptation is a must. GROHE is mapping out how improved architecture and design can help tackle current hygiene challenges. Particular attention with regard to these requirements is paid to areas like hotel bathrooms, public washrooms, and spas. Touchless faucets, controlled by an infrared sensor, can be a good alternative to make hand-washing more hygienic. Thanks to the activation of the water flow by just holding the hands under the spout, the spread of germs and cross-contamination are minimised.
What kind of offerings from GROHE can lead to the well-being of guests at hotels and how can technology play a vital role here?
Intelligent technology is increasingly used in the hospitality sector to guarantee a clean and comfortable space. But I believe technology is an enabler and not a solution itself. We need to ask what the purpose is and how it is going to impact our customer’s lives.
For example, using GROHE’s infra-red and touchless technologies in a public space like a hotel gym can have a great impact on the consumer journey and the hotel’s offering as these technologies minimize cross-contamination, from the faucet to the shower to the toilet, creating a more hygienic and comfortable experience for guests who still seek to use the health and fitness facilities available at hotels.
What is your business strategy in this regard?
For decades, we have supported designers and architects and equipped hotels with high-quality fittings, showers, and sanitary systems. For each hotel category we have the perfect product to meet the highest standards based on our brand pillars quality, technology, design and sustainability. With new hygiene measures being rolled out, intelligent architectural concepts are playing a key role in improving consumer health and safety, especially in public spaces such as lavatories, offices, or restaurants. Developing touchless products to improve hygiene in sensitive areas like these is not a new topic – we offer this portfolio for private and public settings since years. We aim to continue growing this portfolio, living up to our reputation as a pioneering brand in the sanitary industry.
How do you see the future of hospitality?
Despite the unprecedented circumstances witnessed by the hospitality sector this past year, it still remains resilient in the face of these new challenges. Today there are countless actions adapted to each market, considering the severity of what is happening. The first thing the sector must do is transmit a message of security and normality. We have a pipeline of almost 600 new developments in the hospitality sector in the MENA, of which 46 are within the UAE. This shows how the sector is succeeding in taking action towards creating this sense of normality and as GROHE, we have a great responsibility towards our partners to support them in acquiring the latest innovations and technologies in hygiene that guarantee a state-of-the-art offering to their guests.
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How high quality indoor air positively benefits our health? Find out
2020 has been a rollercoaster year for many businesses that had to adapt the services they offer and find innovative solutions to meet the needs of their customers whilst at the same time ensuring their safety. Caparol Arabia is one the many companies in the Middle East that joined the fight against COVID-19 by proposing new eco-friendly products such as CapaCare Protect to curb the impact of the virus and promote healthy living. Martin Roscha, Managing Director at Caparol Arabia, discusses with us how paints that are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be complementary to a healthier lifestyle and hence play a central role in the protection of our environment and well-being.
Improving Indoor Air Quality For A Healthier Lifestyle
Air pollution is globally known for causing death. According to a study from Greenpeace, there are 4.5 million annual premature deaths worldwide due to polluants released by high-emission power station and vehicles exhausts. The Middle East registers 65,000 deaths each year due to pollution. However, did you know that in fact indoor air polluants are known to be more prone to lead to health hazards than outdoor? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental dangers. Market research shows that pollution caused by construction penetrates buildings and thus impacts people’s health.
What is often overlooked is the interaction between paint and indoor air quality, and the importance to carefully select the right paint solution. In the midst of the coronavirus global pandemic, as its consequences continue to unfold, we have a renewed understanding of the significant role the buildings play in promoting public health and wellbeing. Healthy painting is directly correlated to healthier lifestyle. It is known for providing peace of mind during moments of relaxation in your home.
Conventional paints mostly contain of toxic products, and as a result, people are repelled by the smell and often have to wait a few days before being able to habit the room. But even once the smell has passed, other problems remain due to the composition of these paints: certain heavy metals, solvents, petroleum derivatives, etc. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are still harmful to our health and environment even when the paint has dried.
On the other hand, eco-friendly paints significantly reduce any harmful impact, and their design is particularly beneficial to the environment. Their manufacture displays a less toxic footprint than conventional paints, and they are completely odorless and are easily applied on all surfaces. Eco-friendly paints are also permeable, letting the walls breathe and yet also creating a perfect finishing and a great lifespan. Contrary to certain common beliefs, being natural doesn’t prevent these paints from delivering a great performance.
Indoor air quality should not be taken lightly, especially in the GCC where people are exposed to high levels of indoor air polluants. This is mainly due to the fact that these countries record high temperatures that force people indoors for many months of the year. Today, the impact of COVID-19 has driven this trend further. Air pollution can cause serious health side effects that can result in respiratory diseases such as asthma or even lung cancer. When it comes to indoor pollutants, the greatest concern are VOCs. The top source of VOC emissions coming second only to vehicles is paint. At high concentrations, these VOCs prove to be very harmful to residents who have been exposed to them for a long time. These VOCs are released into the indoor atmosphere from paints containing solvent. It is the solvent (one of the basic components of all paints), which released into the air pollutes the latter.
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GROHE brings health, well-being, and sustainability to the spotlight
In the course of its continuing efforts to support the design community, GROHE held the first 2021 edition of its GROHE Design Series event virtually, tackling the new hygiene focus in the hospitality sector, as well as the shift in consumer behavior around health and well-being, ending with a spotlight on sustainability in MENA. The Digital Dialogue between Renu Misra, Leader, MENA, LIXIL EMENA, Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design EMENA, and Catherine Belbin, Editor and Editorial Consultant, was moderated by Yeliz Olcay, Regional Specification Manager at GROHE MENA. Leading architects, interior designers, and media attended the event, and interacted with the speakers during the live session.
Health and well-being in the hospitality sector
The first session of the event covered the new Hygiene focus that emerged in the Hospitality sector as a result of travel restrictions and safety measures imposed in many countries around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though consumers’ needs and the way they plan their traveling journeys have changed, they are still eager to travel and are looking for spaces that they trust are maintaining the best hygiene standards. It is therefore a must for the sector to adapt to the shift in consumer behavior to remain resilient in the face of these challenges.
When it comes to hotels in specific, there are many sensitive areas that are considered public, like spas and gyms where the chances of encountering people are high, which might cause hotel guests to start avoiding these areas, while still wanting to have access to the wellbeing experiences that many hotels offer. This is where GROHE’s touchless products and technologies can help make a difference. “Public sectors such as hotels, food preparation, catering, and high-traffic are very sensitive areas with stringent requirements when it comes to hygiene especially in sanitary facilities and washing areas. With the increased demand for hygiene, we are experiencing right now and in order to minimize the risk of spreading germs and also cross-contamination, we need to reduce contact with any surface as much as we can. As a sanitary brand we are developing solutions for quite a while now to answer this consumer demand: An example are our touchless-control faucets, like the GROHE Essence E. Touchless products are not new but the sensor technology allows for example an extra hygienic hand washing routine without touching the faucet and also reduces water consumption, as the water flow automatically shuts off when the hands are removed from the sensor. On top, GROHE design quality ensures that the long service life and functionality of our products is not affected by heavy use” explained Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design EMENA.
The effect of urbanisation on health and well-being
Moving on to the second topic, the speakers discussed how global trends of seismic scale – namely urbanization – are creating shifts in consumer behavior that is driving technological development. “Today consumers are fundamentally changing how they define and use their living spaces. Consumers are creating new living spaces that blend and redefine the kitchen and the living room, the bath and the bedroom – bathroom and kitchen products become furnishing items. They have risen from passive consumption to taking control over the creation of their living spaces while seeking simplicity and intelligent product solutions” said Renu Misra, Leader, MENA, LIXIL EMENA. “Now, more than ever, product innovation and design depend on an empathetic understanding of these trends as consumers are inclined to choose integrated solutions over single products to create spaces that enhance their health and wellbeing” she added.
Sustainability and creating better homes for everyone, everywhere in the MENA
The focus of the last session was on sustainability and GROHE’s efforts in working towards LIXIL’s vision of creating better homes for everyone, everywhere. Besides quality, technology and design, sustainability is one of the four GROHE brand values and it is deeply anchored in the brand’s strategy. GROHE committed itself in its “principles and guidelines for sustainability” to continuously improving all products, processes, and services in terms of protecting the environment and conserving resources. Since then, GROHE has set new industry standards, applying its 360-degree sustainability approach and in the past ten years alone, more than 490 design and innovation awards as well two recognitions at the German Sustainability Award 2021 have confirmed GROHE’s success. “I firmly believe that the MENA region and the UAE, in particular, embrace the sustainability movement and welcomes the new products such as those from GROHE, that contribute to both their own wellbeing as that of the planet. People are aware of the need to minimize their carbon footprint and are open to new concepts and ways to do this, from buying a shower that uses less water to choosing to live in a custom-designed green residential community” said Catherine Belbin, Design Editor.
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Dubai Chamber unveils impact of employee health and happiness campaign
Over 57,000 employees across 42 companies and 9 academic institutions participated in the Let’s Create a Healthy and Happy Workplace campaign organised as part of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020
Over 57,000 employees across 42 companies and 9 academic institutions participated in the Let’s Create a Healthy and Happy Workplace campaign organised as part of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020More than 57,000 employees across 42 companies and nine academic institutions and non-profit organisations took part in a Dubai Chamber-led campaign, which raised awareness about the importance of prioritising employee happiness and health.
The campaign, titled Let’s Create a Healthy and Happy Workplace, was organised as part of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020, held November 8th-12 under the theme Employee Health and Happiness. More than 417 projects, activities and events were organised during the week, attracting the participation of over 350 delegates from 221 local businesses.
The results of the campaign were unveiled at the closing ceremony of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020. During the virtual event, industry leaders shared their recommendations and noted that
employee health and wellbeing should be a top priority for any organisation and a matter at the top of the human resources agenda.
Top management should lead the way by being visible, advocate for employee health and wellbeing, and manage with compassion and empathy during such unprecedented times, experts noted, adding that it is now an ideal time to embrace technological innovations in the fields of health and wellbeing. However, they pointed out that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to adopting technological solutions for employee wellbeing as such initiatives should be tailored to the organisation’s specific needs.
Businesses must rethink the work environment and develop systems, skills and that empower employees to work from home. More than ever, organisations need to make employee engagement a front-and-centre issue and leaders need to learn to trust their employees more and avoid micromanaging them, the speakers noted.
The CEO Dialogue event was attended by high-level speakers and panellists, including H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber; Rola Abu Manneh, CEO, Standard Chartered, UAE; Stuart Harrison, CEO, Emrill Services LLC; Phil Malem, CEO, Serco Middle East; and Andrew Shaw, Group CEO, Ducab., who shared valuable insights on employee well-being and best practices in boosting employee engagement during Covid-19.
A roundtable shed light on the opportunities and challenges associated the physical, psychological and professional aspects of remote working during and post Covid-19 pandemic. Among the main suggestions made by participants were that the organisations should consider a hybrid work environment, a combination of office and remote working as a permanent feature and provide employees with the necessary tools, techniques and equipment’s for suitable work environment at home. The discussion was joined by representatives from Transworld Group, du, Six Construct and Paramount Computer Systems.
At the Multi stakeholder Dialogue, private and public sector stakeholders showcased various technological solutions designed to enhance employee wellness and wellbeing strategies, while they identified key benefits and challenges of using such technologies. Among the speakers were Alyaa Al Mulla – Director, National Program for Happiness & Wellbeing, Office of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and representatives from Steppi and Cisco.
Dr. Belaid Rettab, Chief Economist & Senior Director, Economic Research & Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber’s Centre for Responsible Business, said the strong participation in Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 reflects the growing importance that companies in the UAE attach to employee health and wellbeing. Throughout the week, participating industry leaders made a strong business case for investing in employee health and wellbeing and suggested that by doing so, companies could boost employee’s productivity, engagement and loyalty, and reduce the risk of talent attrition.
Dr. Rettab added that the week-long initiative and campaign achieved its objectives of raising awareness about the benefits of prioritising employee health and happiness, and encouraging organisations to take practical actions and further their progress in this area.
Honeywell announces solutions to help improve building health
Honeywell announced an integrated solutions portfolio to help building owners in the Middle East improve the health of their building environments, operate more cleanly and safely, comply with social distancing policies, and help reassure occupants that it is safe to return to the workplace. By integrating air quality, safety and security technologies along with advanced analytics, Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions are designed to help building owners minimise potential risks of contamination and create business continuity by monitoring both the building environment and building occupants’ behaviours.
Honeywell’s new solutions provide building owners with more control over critical health, safety and security factors to encourage sustained compliance with changing building standards, safety guidelines, government-issued regulations and a company’s risk management policies. These innovative solutions also provide transparency into a building’s health status to its occupants.
“We’re all facing a new normal – including how buildings are managed. We’re working with entities in the region to support well-being as building owners, operators and occupiers return to work, consider travel, visit shopping malls or healthcare facilities,” said George Bou Mitri, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Building Technologies, Middle East, Turkey and Africa. “Honeywell has developed outcome-based solutions that allow building owners in the region to transparently address how they limit exposure to and the spread of viruses while supporting their business continuity needs. We’re giving them the data they need to confidently reassure their employees to accelerate their business operations.”
Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions are part of a comprehensive effort among Honeywell’s businesses to come together to quickly develop solutions that are helping important sectors of the global economy recover. Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions provide a holistic view of a building’s health based on key factors such as indoor air quality, occupant flow, personal protection equipment (PPE) analytics, thermal screening, social distancing, anti-bacterial wiring devices and sanitation efficacy.
Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions features two packages – one focussed on indoor air quality and another on safety and security.
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