Laufen Austria’s pioneering journey to the world’s first C2C Circularity Certificate

Laufen Austria, part of the Roca Group – one of the world’s largest ceramics manufacturers – has achieved the first ever Cradle to Cradle Certified Circularity Certification. This milestone not only positions Laufen as an innovator in sanitary ceramics but also sets a benchmark that competitors are likely to follow. By developing and implementing a strategy to close post-consumer material loops, Laufen Austria demonstrates that circularity goes beyond factory walls and signals how important circularity is.

Introduction

Laufen Austria worked with Sustenuto to break new ground in the circularity of sanitary ceramics. As the market leader in Austria and a recognised pioneer in the production of climate-neutral sanitary ceramics at its Gmunden site, the company set out to certify its locally-produced ceramics according to the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Circularity Standard. The project focused specifically on the ceramics manufactured in Gmunden.

Over several months, teams from Laufen and Sustenuto collaborated closely, combining expertise in circular product design, stakeholder engagement, and retrieval systems.

The challenge

The ceramics industry faces unique challenges on its path to circularity:

• Recycled ceramic content is typically limited to material recovered within the production process, such as unfired or fired ceramic pieces that are reintroduced into the ceramic body, rather than post‑consumer materials.

• There generally are no public collection or recycling systems for used sanitary ceramics in place.

• Although ceramics are technically recyclable, most products still end up in landfill once they reach end-of-life.

• Achieving true circularity therefore requires closing post‑consumer loops, not only pre‑consumer loops.

• Laufen Austria’s ambition was to design a comprehensive strategy to facilitate the return and recycling of used sanitary ceramics from the market despite the absence of existing infrastructure.

As a subsidiary of the world’s largest ceramics manufacturer, Laufen sends a strong signal to the entire sector that post-consumer sanitary ceramics can be given a new lease of life, establishing a benchmark for others to follow.

Our approach

Sustenuto supported Laufen Austria by:

• Mapping the lifecycle of sanitary ceramics, from production to end-of-use.

• Supporting the development of a structured (post-consumer) recycling strategy.

• Identifying collection and recycling opportunities and reaching out to partner organisations that can recycle ceramics after collection.

• Providing guidance on C2C certification requirements and supporting documentation.

• Ensuring that the strategy is actionable, measurable, and scalable for future expansion.

• Acting as a connector between Laufen and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, ensuring that circularity ambitions translate into real-world action.

The results

Thanks to their constructive solution-oriented mentality and perseverance, Laufen Austria has become the first company worldwide to achieve the C2C Certified Circularity Certificate. The project sets a new benchmark for the ceramics industry.

Laufen is now pursuing Full Scope C2C certification, further strengthening its leadership in designing and producing products that are good for the planet and people.

Laufen’s strategy is aimed at closing the post-consumer loop in practice, demonstrating that circularity is possible even in sectors with significant infrastructure gaps. The project showcases that circularity extends beyond factory walls and requires collaboration across the value chain.

Laufen Austria’s achievement proves that even in challenging sectors, circularity is within reach when companies commit to innovation and collaboration.