A Sustainable Future – Sussex Certified by Climate Active

Sussex has become the first tapware manufacturer in Australia to be certified as carbon neutral, a milestone achieved in partnership with Climate Active.

Founded 25 years ago by jeweller-turned-watchmaker Nicholaas Johannes van Putten, Sussex is a tapware manufacturer based in Melbourne. In 2011, Nicholaas’s daughter Vanessa Katsanevakis took over Sussex as Director and has continued to maintain its local heritage, investing in renewable energy and design. With the certification from Climate Active, Sussex is the first Australian manufacturer to offer certified carbon neutral tapware.

With a certification from Climate Active, Sussex is the first tap manufacturer to offer certified carbon neutral tapware in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.

Climate Active, renowned for its rigorous certification process, is an ongoing partnership between the Australian Government and businesses, representing an effort to measure, reduce and offset carbon emissions. In a near decade-long sustainability journey, Climate Active’s certification is the next step in Sussex’s aim of inspiring more environmentally conscious manufacturing explains Vanessa.

“Our story is built around a family endeavour – to build an Australian business with sustainability at its heart,” she says. “Creating sustainable and ethical solutions is key to our collective future. We have always wanted to face this challenge with a promise to do it the right way.”

Shaped by innovation and sustainable practices, Sussex has maintained their commitment to local manufacturers, preserving business for local artisans.

The certification was achieved using a range of active and passive emission reduction strategies. This included offsetting 1,133 tonnes of carbon emissions via wind farms, ensuring a net zero carbon footprint. Sussex also recycles 85% of materials each year and has installed LED lighting within all four of their facilities, which reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 30 per cent. “For Sussex, sustainability is about investing in the future,” Vanessa says, “and that means three key things – investing in people, investing in Australia and investing in our product. From the craftspeople we employ to the solar energy we use, sustainability is approached through a simple yet powerful proposition – to make it right.”

Informe by this emphasis on by innovation and sustainable practices, Sussex has maintained its commitment to local manufacturers, preserving business for local artisans. “Every tap we make passes through the hands of a seasoned craftsperson, and that has never changed,” Vanessa states. “We pursue excellence in all facets of our business and are continually building on our legacy of local craftsmanship and innovation.”