일본 릭실(LIXIL)의 주방 및 욕실용품 브랜드인 그로헤(GROHE) 설문조사 결과 발표

물 및 주택 제품 생산 분야의 글로벌 리더인 일본 릭실(LIXIL)의 브랜드인 그로헤(GROHE)가 실시한 물 부족에 대한 새로운 설문조사의 결과를 지난 11월 9일 발표했다. 

이 설문조사 자료는 소비자 태도, 행동 변화, 그리고 미국과 전 세계의 물 소비 및 보존을 개선하는 데에 있어 직면한 장벽을 자세히 보여준다.

이 새로운 데이터는 미국 내 4천600만 명 이상의 사람들이 매일 물에 대한 불안을 안고 살아가고 있으며, 50년 안에 국가 담수 공급의 일부가 3분의 1까지 줄어들 수 있다는 점에서 중요한 시기에 나온 설문조사이다.

이번 설문조사에서 미국인들은 물 위기가 더욱 악화될 것으로 예상하고 있으며, 그렇게 되면 물 사용을 바꾸려는 동기를 갖게 될 것이라고 응답했다. 

주방 및 욕실용품 판매기업인 그로헤(GROHE)가 실시한 이번 설문조사의 결과는 다음과 같다.

응답자의 50% 이상이 향후 5년 내에 물 스트레스(water stress)가 자신의 지역이나 국가에 영향을 미칠 가능성이 있거나 매우 높다고 답했다.

응답자의 73%는 미국에서 물을 제한할 경우 물 사용량에 변화를 줄 것이라고 답했다.

미국인 중 40%는 일상생활에서 물을 절약하는 방법에 대해 충분히 알고 있지 않다고 생각하는 것으로 나타났다.

특히 응답자 중 62%는 ‘물을 가장 많이 쓴다’고 말하는 욕실에 “절수용품을 설치할 계획이 없다”고 답했다.

이와함께 응답자의 61%는 “높은 초기 비용이나 물 절약 기술에 대한 인식 부족이 집과 욕실에서 물을 절약하려고 할 때 직면하는 가장 큰 장벽”이라고 응답했다.

릭실 아메리카(LIXIL Americas)의 트레이 노스럽(Trey Northrup) CEO는 “물 위기에 대한 소비자 교육의 증가는 고무적이지만 이번 조사는 물 위기에 대한 지식과 이에 대처하는 방법에 대한 지식 사이에 분명한 격차가 있음을 보여준다”라고 말했다.

노스럽 CEO는 특히 “업계 리더로서 증가하는 지속 가능성 문제와 도움 방법에 대한 교육을 우선시하는 것이 우리의 책임이며, 또한 소비자로서 우리는 빠르게 증가하는 이 문제를 해결하는 방법을 적극적으로 배우는 데 전념해야 한다”라면서 “모든 사람의 협력과 헌신을 굳게 믿고 있으며 정부기관, NGO, 업계 관계자, 소비자 등 모든 당사자는 물 위기에 맞서 의미 있는 진전을 이루는 데 핵심이다”라고 강조했다.

아메리칸 스탠다드(American Standard) 및 그로헤(GROHE)를 포함한 주방 및 욕실용품의 선도적인 브랜드 제조업체인 LIXIL은 운영 및 파트너십에서 보존을 우선 시 함으로써 모범을 보이고 있다. 에너지 절약형 수도꼭지, 절수 변기 등 다양한 제품과 서비스를 통해 2025년 말까지 전 세계적으로 연간 20억 입방미터(㎥)의 물 소비량을 줄이는 데 기여하는 것을 목표로 하고 있다.

미국에서 LIXIL은 앨라배마주 론데스 카운티의 위생 문제를 해결하기 위해 앨라배마주 공중보건부(Alabama Department of Public Health) 및 사우스 앨라배마대학교(University of South Alabama)와 협력하는 등 물과 위생 문제를 해결하기 위한 파트너십을 지원하고 있다.

[원문보기]

LIXIL Releases New Data: 40% of Americans Believe They Lack the Information Needed to Conserve Water at Home

Survey offers in-depth insights into consumer attitudes, behavior shifts and barriers to conservation amid increasing water crisis

NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LIXIL, a global leader in creating water and housing products, today released data from a new survey about water scarcity, conducted by LIXIL brand GROHE. 

The data offers a close look at consumer attitudes, shifts in behaviors and barriers they face in helping improve water consumption and conservation in the United States and globally. 

This new data comes at a critical time, as more than 46 million people in the U.S. live with water insecurity every day - and within as little as 50 years, parts of the country's freshwater supply may be reduced by as much as a third.

Within the survey, Americans report they expect the crisis to get worse, and would be motivated to change their water use as it does. Key findings from the report include:

More than 50% of respondents say it's either likely or very likely that water stress will impact their region or country in the next five years.

73% of respondents say they would make changes in their water usage if water was limited in the U.S.

40% of Americans don't think they know enough about how to save water in their everyday lives.

62% aren't planning on installing water-saving products in their bathrooms ? the place where they say they use the most water.

61% of respondents say that high upfront costs or lack of awareness of water-saving techniques and technologies are the largest barriers they face when trying to save water in their homes and bathrooms.

"Increased consumer education of the water crisis is encouraging, but the survey illuminates a clear gap in knowledge about the crisis versus knowledge about how to combat it," said Trey Northrup, CEO of LIXIL Americas.

 "And while as industry leaders, it is our responsibility prioritize education around increasing sustainability issues and how to help; as consumers, we also need to commit to proactively learning how to solve this rapidly growing issue, as I firmly believe collaboration and commitment from all parties, whether a government body, NGO, industry player or consumer, is key to making meaningful progress against the water crisis." 

LIXIL, a manufacturer of leading brands including American Standard and GROHE, leads by example by prioritizing conservation in its operations and partnerships. It aims to contribute to a global reduction of two billion cubic meters per year in water consumption by the end of 2025 through various products and services, such as energy- and water-saving faucets and water-saving toilets. 

In the United States, LIXIL supports partnerships to address water and sanitation issues, including its work with the Alabama Department of Public Health and the University of South Alabama to address sanitation challenges in Lowndes County, Alabama.

Methodology : LIXIL brand GROHE commissioned a representative YouGov survey in seven countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Morocco, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, USA). The survey was conducted from September 8th to September 26th, 2023, with a total of 7,258 people interviewed.

Disclaimer: This press release is intended to provide an overview of the most relevant and interesting market data from the survey. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the survey, its findings and methodology.

About LIXIL

LIXIL (TSE Code 5938) makes pioneering water and housing products that solve every day, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products that transform homes. 

But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard and TOSTEM. 

Approximately 55,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com. 

About Grohe

GROHE is the leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, dedicated to providing innovative water products. For many decades, GROHE has been committed to the brand values of technology, quality, design and sustainability that illustrate GROHE's commitment to creating exceptional experiences and to delivering "Pure Freude an Wasser" (Pure Enjoyment of Water).

Renowned innovation highlights such as GROHE thermostat series as well as groundbreaking products such as the GROHE Blue Chilled & Sparkling water system underline the brand's profound expertise in the industry. Focused on customer needs, GROHE creates intelligent, life-enhancing and sustainable product solutions that are firmly anchored in the German seal of quality.

GROHE takes its corporate responsibility very seriously and focuses on a resource-saving value chain. Since April 2020, the sanitary brand has been producing CO2-neutral* worldwide. In spring 2022, GROHE reached another major milestone by removing all unnecessary plastic packaging from its products.

The success of GROHE has been recognized with more than 490 design, innovation and sustainability awards in the past 10 years alone. GROHE was the first in its industry to win the CSR Award of the German Federal Government and the German Sustainability Award 2021 in the categories "Resources" and "Design". As part of the sustainability and climate campaign "50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders," GROHE is also driving sustainable transformation. 

[출처=PR Newswire(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lixil-releases-new-data-40-of-americans-believe-they-lack-the-information-needed-to-conserve-water-at-home-301983666.html) / 2023년 11월 9일]

[번역 = 배철민 편집국장 겸 글로벌물산업정보센터장]