At INDEX 2025 in Riyadh, Laura Kohler, Chief Sustainable Living Officer at Kohler Co., brought a clear and compelling message: sustainability is not an add-on, it is at the core of design, business, and community impact. With over 30 years of leadership experience, Laura has shaped Kohler’s sustainability journey through initiatives that span water conservation, energy efficiency, product circularity, and associate empowerment.
Laura Kohler’s initiatives
For Laura, water is the foundation of a good life and great design. She launched Kohler’s water ambition, “Water Stewardship Through Uncompromising Design”, an initiative aimed at equitable access to clean water and sustainable water solutions. Speaking with Destination KSA Riyadh, she explained Kohler’s unique position in owning Kohler’s unique position to influence water conservation, end to end.
“We really own the entire pipeline of water, from innovation to manufacturing the product to marketing to sales to helping the customer live a more sustainable life,” she said. The brand walks the talk and believes strongly that water is essential to life.
That belief translates into action. Kohler products are designed to conserve water without compromising performance. The company also restores water to the watersheds it draws from, ensuring a cycle of responsibility that stretches from factory floor to household faucet.
Laura Kohler and design
When it comes to design, Laura is adamant that sustainability should never come at the expense of beauty or functionality. “We work closely with the design community to help them understand what is possible,” she explained. By engaging architects and designers early, Kohler ensures sustainable products are celebrated as much for their aesthetics as for their efficiency.
Beyond products, Laura Kohler sees people as the true engine of change. She has long championed associate engagement, introducing flexible workplace programs years before they became mainstream. At Kohler today, purpose and impact are embedded in every role.
“It’s really about helping people achieve their own personal mission at work, not just coming to do a job every day.”
This focus on empowerment has given rise to programs like Innovation for Good®, Safe Water for All, and KOHLER WasteLAB, as well as the company’s first report utilizing an ESG disclosure framework called the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in 2022. The goal is clear: to connect sustainability to both daily work and global impact.
Looking to rapidly growing cities like Riyadh, Laura pointed to the importance of foresight in infrastructure. “As urban environments expand, laying the right infrastructure for transportation, water management, and energy management is incredibly important,” she said.
Laura Kohler and innovation
As for the future, Laura is energized by innovation. From recirculating showers to high-performing low-flow toilets, Kohler is investing in solutions that blend luxury with conservation. “Markets like the Middle East are rapidly advancing the cause of sustainability,” she noted. “We are continuously learning more about the culture of middle east so we can bring products and innovations for this region“
Laura Kohler’s vision is both ambitious and grounded. By marrying design, innovation, and social impact, Kohler is not only shaping the future design of bathrooms and kitchens, it is helping to reimagine how we live. Or as Laura Kohler put it best, “We want people to be proud of the products they put in their home.”
For more information, visit kohler.com.
