The world is changing fast with a demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products to create a sustainable economy for current and future generations. The primary objectives of sustainability remain to minimize waste, reduce the usage of non-renewable resources and create safe habitable environments.

Laura Kohler, the senior vice-president of HR, Stewardship and Sustainability at Kohler Company, on her maiden trip to Nairobi-Kenya went with a purpose along with design veterans such as Eng. Lucy Wanjiku Mutinda, and Arch. Wilson Mugambi as a panelist for a deep discussion on how design can transform the world into a more sustainable place and the discussion was streamed on one of the leading media houses in East Africa- NTV Kenya on Oct 27.

Laura drives Kohler’s global corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies, focusing on community partnerships, corporate & associate giving, disaster relief and Kohler’s journey to net positive while also overseeing Kohler’s renowned Arts/Industry program.

Lucy is an Engineer by profession who is passionate on environmental conservation and is a leading voice in Kenya on matters regarding water conservation and green products. She is the Founder & CEO of the wastewater recycling equipment company named Eco cycle Ltd which specializes on on-site wastewater treatment and recycling for reuse technology.

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On the hand, Wilson who is the President of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK)-which is the largest association of built environment professionals in Kenya and East African community is also the partner of the architectural firm Artcore Design Build LLP and has over two decades of experience in architectural design.

With his decades of experience designing sustainable buildings, Wilson emphasizes a positive change in mentality among African people in taking care of the environment while building houses from the ground up. He strongly believes that while the initial cost can be high, the multitude of benefits outweighs the initial cost. Such efforts lead to a paradigm shift in making the world a better habitat.

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Laura Kohler spoke about Kohler Co being a leader, has been tracking the environmental footprint of operations since 2008, and has been using this data to drive continuous improvement to reduce the negative impacts of operations and products.

Kohler has taken various initiatives with its Design2sustain philosophy. Kohler globally runs “Save Water for All” and its efforts to promote something similar in Africa as a Social Responsible Corporate player. The mission is to combine style with sustainability producing products that are refined and innovative with a focus on a better future through waste reduction through Kohler’s WasteLAB®.

Each year Kohler strives to reduce its environmental footprint by 3%. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and solid waste in landfill are the various parameters to measure the results.

Moreover, driven by a passion for innovative sustainability, KOHLER WasteLAB® takes leftover landfill-bound materials from the manufacturing process and converts them into functional products of style and beauty to turn waste into something meaningful.

“Our best can always be better” is Kohler’s operating philosophy – better for the lives we touch, better for our communities, better for our planet, and better for business. Kohler is committed to being good stewards of the communities and the environment at large; in fact, stewardship refers to Kohler's social impact initiatives. As stewards, we are passionate about helping the world solve its water and sanitation needs, and about enhancing the quality of life for current and future generations to make the world a better place for all.