Unified Water Label Association QTR 1 Newsletter

Quarter 1 Update – 2026

A Strong Start to the Year

We are pleased to welcome you to the first UWLA newsletter of 2026.

The year began following a highly successful Annual General Meeting held at the Roca Gallery in November last year. The event brought members together to reflect on the progress made over the past year and to align on priorities for the months ahead.

Managing Director Lee Cartwright presented a comprehensive review of 2025, highlighting the significant strides made across technical development, marketing, and advocacy. These updates were further supported by detailed presentations from our working group chairs during the committee sessions.

The AGM also marked an important leadership transition. We extend our sincere thanks to Carlos Velazquez for his many years of dedicated service to the Association. We are equally pleased to welcome Markus Gantenbein as our new President, following his transition from Vice President.


A consistent theme throughout these discussions was the ongoing redesign of the Unified Water Label, a critical step in ensuring the scheme remains aligned with regulatory expectations and continues to deliver value to both industry and consumers.

Operational Update

Following the Christmas break, the UWLA team resumed activity at a pace.

January saw the completion of our annual membership review, ensuring that contact details remain accurate and up to date across the Association. This exercise highlighted a number of organisational changes within member companies and reinforces the importance of maintaining strong lines of communication.

We also issued a member survey to gather your feedback on the Association’s structure, activities, and future direction. Thank you to all who participated. The results are currently being analysed and will be presented and discussed at the upcoming Open Forum.

In March, we were delighted to welcome Diane Cartlidge as Association Administrator. Diane brings extensive experience in administrative leadership, event coordination, and executive support. She is already playing a key role in supporting member communications, meetings, and events, helping to strengthen the day-to-day operations of the Association.

Diane can be contacted at administration@ulwa.eu and works Monday to Thursday, 08:00–14:30 GMT.

Advocacy Update

Engagement with the European Commission

Building on the positive recognition of the UWLA in the European Water Resilience Strategy, we have continued to strengthen our engagement with the European Commission.

This has included a series of meetings with representatives from ENER.B3 and ENV.B4, as well as an in-person discussion in Brussels with Axel Hellam.

These discussions are focused on exploring the potential for the UWLA to enter into a Voluntary Agreement under Article 21 of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Conversations have been constructive, with a possible application timeline being considered for early 2027.

A key outcome from these engagements has been the clear need for an updated label design—work which has now progressed significantly.

UK Developments – MWELS

The UWLA has also been actively engaged in responding to the proposed introduction of the UK Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MWELS).

Following a detailed review of the technical proposals, a dedicated UWLA working group was established to coordinate a European manufacturer response. This work has been aligned with parallel activity within the UK to ensure a consistent and robust industry position.

Key actions have included:
Submission of formal concerns via the WTO feedback process
Direct engagement with Laura Chapman
Receipt of an official response from Emma Hardy confirming the UK Government’s intention to proceed with a mandatory label
While details of the scheme remain limited, a formal meeting with the MWELS delivery team has been scheduled for April, where we will continue to represent members’ interests.

Marketing & Communications

To support the next phase of the Association’s development, we have strengthened our marketing capability through new partnerships.

We are now working with Daisy Digital to develop our digital marketing infrastructure. This includes the setup and optimisation of social media channels, development of campaign assets, and preparation for the launch of the new label. Much of this work is currently in progress and aligned with the completion of our updated landing page.

In addition, we have partnered with Bee Social Marketing to drive engagement through LinkedIn. This activity will focus on increasing awareness of the UWLA, supporting member visibility, and generating new opportunities for collaboration and growth.

New Label Development – Key Milestone

A major highlight of the quarter has been the progress made on the redesigned Unified Water Label.

Following extensive work by the Marketing Working Group, the proposed design was submitted to Board members in January and received strong support. The design was then shared with the European Commission, which confirmed that it successfully addresses the concerns previously raised.

With approval now secured, the project has moved into the next phase, including:

• Development of automated label generation systems
• Creation of comprehensive label guidelines
• Planning of coordinated launch campaigns
• We are targeting an official launch in Q2 2026, supported by a structured communications and marketing strategy.

Industry Engagement

Engagement with industry stakeholders remains a key priority.

In March, the UWLA presented to members of the VDMA. The session provided an overview of our activities, strategic direction, and the new label design.

The presentation was very well received, with strong interest in the upcoming launch and continued collaboration opportunities.

Technical Update

Technical development remains a core pillar of the Association’s work, and Q1 has seen several important initiatives launched.

In January, a Database Improvement Working Group was established to review how the UWLA database can be enhanced to improve efficiency, usability, and overall member experience. This work will focus on streamlining processes and ensuring the system better supports both current and future requirements.

In February, a newly formed Technical Working Group was created to review the MWELS technical documentation in detail. This group played a key role in supporting the development of the UWLA’s formal response, ensuring it was robust, evidence-based, and reflective of member interests.

Looking ahead, additional working groups are being formed to support the development of new technical criteria, including:
Electrical showers
Urinal controls
Members interested in contributing to these discussions are encouraged to get involved. Please contact Paul Skinner at Paul.Skinner@UWLA.eu for further information.



Audit Programme

Work has now commenced on the annual audit programme, which includes randomly selected product audits across the membership.

Selected companies will be notified in the coming months and will receive formal invitations outlining the audit requirements.

This activity is a critical component of the UWLA scheme, ensuring that the Unified Water Label remains credible, robust, and trusted across the market. We appreciate members’ cooperation and engagement in supporting this important process.

Industry Collaboration – Joint Advocacy

In January, the UWLA joined forces with the Bathroom Manufacturers and AMDEA to publish a joint article in the February edition of the Environmental Times.

The article called on the UK Government to provide greater clarity on its water labelling plans, highlighting concerns around EU compatibility and the potential for consumer confusion arising from a UK-only mandatory label.

The piece set out a unified industry position, reinforcing the importance of alignment with existing schemes such as the Unified Water Label and advocating for a clear, consistent approach that supports both manufacturers and consumers.

With a readership exceeding 240,000 across print and digital formats, Environmental Times provided an effective platform to raise awareness and stimulate wider discussion on this important issue.



Environment Times Case Study Feb 26

Member Spotlight – Geberit Goes Live

We are pleased to highlight that Geberit has now gone live with the Unified Water Label across its digital product catalogue.

The label is displayed on all applicable products that meet UWLA technical criteria, providing clear and accessible information on water consumption via flow rates and associated energy use. This enables consumers and specifiers to make more informed purchasing decisions based on sustainability performance.

This implementation represents an important step in increasing visibility of the label at the point of product selection and demonstrates how digital integration can support behavioural change through improved information transparency.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the next quarter, our focus will be on:

• Advancing discussions with the European Commission
• Continuing engagement on MWELS in the UK
• Delivering the launch of the new Unified Water Label
• Expanding our marketing and communications activity
• Sharing member survey insights at the Open Forum

UWLA Upcoming Events

• 20 May 2026 - UWLA Board Meeting (Online)
• 24 & 25 June 2026 - UWLA Attending the Installer Show (NEC Birmingham, UK)

Registration Link

• 30 June 2026 - UWLA Marketing & Advocacy Committee Meeting (Brussels)
• 30 June 2026 - UWLA Open Forum (Brussels)
• 1 July 2026 - UWLA Technical Committee Meeting (Brussels)
• 24 October 2026 - UWLA Board Meeting (Online)
• 24 November 2026 - UWLA Marketing & Advocacy Committee Meeting (Barcelona)
• 24 November 2026 - UWLA AGM (Barcelona)
• 25 November 2026 - UWLA Technical Committee Meeting (Barcelona)
• 25-26 November 2026 - UWLA Attending Elemental London (London)

New Members

Our new members during Qtr 1 are:

Rosan Armature - Serbia
Based in Kanjiza, Serbia, specialising in the manufacturing of taps
Rosan Armature have registered 45 products with UWLA.

Essebagno - France
Based in Marseille, all products are designed and developed in France becoming a key player in the French tap market. Essebagno have registered 23 products with UWLA.

Thank You

The progress achieved in the first quarter of 2026 reflects the continued commitment and collaboration of our members.

We thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to working together as we move into an important phase for the Association and the Unified Water Label.