TOTO partners with Hall Brick to upcycle clay waste into building material

TOTO, a ceramic sanitary ware manufacturer based in Kitakyushu, Japan, has announced that it has expanded its best-in-class sustainability initiatives at its manufacturing facilities in Morrow and Lakewood, Georgia. The company has formed a cross-industrial strategic partnership with Pine Hall Brick Co., which also practices sustainable manufacturing, says TOTO. A family-owned business that manufactures face brick, pavers and specially-shaped brick, Pine Hall Brick will upcycle TOTO's high-grade clay sediment waste into premium white brick, primarily for commercial construction and specialized building projects.

As a part of its world-class sustainable manufacturing processes, TOTO recycles the water it uses to produce vitreous china products at its Morrow and Lakewood, GA, facilities. Before returning this water to the Clayton County Water Authority, TOTO puts it through extensive treatment and purification processes, so it is in a cleaner condition than when TOTO received it.

As a part of its water treatment processes, TOTO removes high-grade white clay particulate from the water; this sediment is termed "filtercake." By upcycling its filtercake with Pine Hall Brick, TOTO is able to prevent more than 3.8 million pounds of clay sediment from being deposited in landfills each year.

"Upcycling our high-grade filtercake to create premium commercial/specialty brick building material is another of our incremental projects and processes that combine synergistically to reduce our manufacturing facilities' environmental impact," says Bill Strang, president of Operations for the Americas. "We don't believe that there's a 'silver bullet,' when it comes to cutting a facility's carbon footprint. Instead, we take a 'silver buckshot' approach by introducing many strategic initiatives that upcycle, recycle, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and re-buy the environmental resources that we use in the production of our water- and energy-saving premium plumbing products. We have nearly attained carbon- and water-neutral status at our five North American plants."

TOTO has received numerous awards and recognitions for its leadership in conservation and environmental sustainability. The company is the only plumbing manufacturer honored with the EPA's prestigious Water Efficiency Leader award for its sustained efforts to promote a water efficiency ethic through outstanding leadership and innovation in water-efficient product development, sustainable manufacturing processes, and water conservation advocacy. Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue honored TOTO with the "Conserve Georgia 'Water Conservation Award'" for leading the way in sustainable water use by developing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, ensuring the highest levels of efficiency in its Morrow manufacturing plant, and educating employees, the community, and fellow businesses about the importance of water conservation and how to achieve it.

Most recently, the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper honored TOTO as a "Best in Class Business," lauding the company for its leadership in raising the environmental efficiency bar throughout the state by developing popular and affordable high-efficiency plumbing products; partnering with other businesses, including the United Parcel Service, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, to generate significant water and energy savings; and developing green business practices that reflect a deep commitment to conservation and sustainability.

TOTO USA is headquarters for the Americas Division of the TOTO Global Group, which was established in 1917 with the founding of TOTO, Ltd., in Kitakyushu, Japan. TOTO is the world's largest manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and fittings with $5.1 billion dollars in annual sales. For nearly 100 years, TOTO has been the recognized leader in performance innovation and design with products that enhance the luxury bathroom experience. Today, the company maintains 25,700 employees in 69 offices around the world and owns manufacturing facilities in Japan, Mexico, the USA, China and Europe with an affiliated network of more than 80 production facilities worldwide.