Hansgrohe has set a new benchmark in sustainability with its innovative palladium recovery process. This breakthrough has earned the company the 2026 German Award for Sustainability Projects. Additionally, the initiative is a finalist for the 2026 Circularity Champion Award in the Recycling and Recovery category.

Revolutionising palladium recovery

The Hansgrohe Group developed a cutting-edge system to recover palladium from process water used in plastic electroplating. Engineers designed a selective adsorption system that filters pretreated rinse water through a specialised adsorbent fleece. This fleece binds palladium, even at extremely low concentrations, allowing it to re-enter the raw material cycle. This innovation transforms what was once a waste stream into a valuable resource.

Since 2018, Hansgrohe has worked to optimise this process for industrial use. The project involved collaboration with Aqua Plus Wasser- und Recyclingsysteme GmbH for technical implementation and the German Textile Research Centre Northwest (DTNW) for materials expertise. Today, the Offenburg facility recovers approximately 5kg of palladium annually. In a fully optimised closed-loop system, up to 82% of the precious metal can be recovered.

Environmental impact and circular economy

The environmental benefits of this process are significant. By returning secondary palladium to production, Hansgrohe could avoid more than 150 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually compared to producing the same amount of primary palladium. This achievement demonstrates how circular economy principles can scale in industrial production, reducing reliance on finite resources and minimising environmental impact.

A commitment to sustainability

Frank Semling, Hansgrohe’s Chief Production Officer, emphasised the importance of this project. He stated that it showcases how industrial processes can align with sustainability goals by turning waste into resources. Beyond its immediate application, the technology holds potential for broader use in surface finishing and critical-raw-material recovery.

This initiative is a cornerstone of Hansgrohe’s sustainability strategy, reflecting its commitment to resource efficiency and innovation. For more details, explore the GreenTech BW ‘Spotlight on Hansgrohe’ feature.