AUSTRALIAN STORY Caroma

This iconic Australian brand progressed from making plastic toys and medical supplies to producing some of the most significant fixtures in our bathrooms.

Most Australians would be surprised to learn that Caroma began as a small firm manufacturing plastic toys. Founder Charles Rothauser went on to invent the first plastic hypodermic syringe and became a pioneer of plastic-injection moulding, leading to the first plastic one-piece toilet cistern.

“This curiosity and pioneering spirit is at the core of Caroma and prevails strongly in all we do, resulting in some of the most significant, globally impactful water-saving initiatives today,” says Dr Steve Cummings, Caroma’s director of innovation. “Our first Dual Flush toilet in 1984 reduced water usage per flush from 11 litres to five. In 2004, we introduced Smartflush, which established a new industry standard of water-usage levels, down to four-and-a half litres on full flush and just three litres on half flush.”

Caroma’s water-conservation efforts go beyond toilet suites; it also supplies showers, tapware and urinals that actively minimise consumption and meet the highest WELS water-efficiency ratings. “We strive to match sustainability with style, amazing design and the highest quality,” says Dr Cummings. “Caroma’s commitment is to make life better through the design and delivery of products, services and technologies that create superior solutions for people to enjoy and sustain water, our planet’s most precious resource.”

Today, Caroma employs more than 300 staff across Australia and has two flagship stores: one in Adelaide, the brand’s birthplace, and the other in Sydney’s Alexandria (above). There are also concept stores, in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. caroma.com.au