- Product news.
- Press Release
- Japan
A website that aggregates information about water purification has been launched.
LIXIL Corporation (hereinafter referred to as LIXIL), which has reached the 100th anniversary of its domestic water and tile business, launched a website on December 24, 2024, that consolidates information about LIXIL's water purification, which evolves tap water.
Purification website:
Japan's tap water is managed by some of the strictest water quality standards in the world, making it safe to drink. However, recent news has highlighted concerns about the detection of PFAS in tap water and the proliferation of counterfeit and compatible purification cartridges, threatening the safety of water.
LIXIL has enhanced the value of water through faucet technology that controls water flow, quality, and temperature, contributing to the improved quality of life for people. The newly launched purification website is filled with information showcasing the advanced technology, quality, and performance of LIXIL's purification faucets and cartridges, as well as the eco-friendly and smart lifestyle that can be achieved. Additionally, it provides information that helps users differentiate between genuine and counterfeit or compatible cartridges to ensure safe use of water, along with not-so-well known historical insights about purification, enhancing knowledge about it.
■ Highlights of the purification site
1. Secrets of LIXIL cartridges: Two core technologies "antibacterial ceramics" and "proprietary blended activated carbon"
LIXIL's purification cartridge features a natural ceramic filter as its core material, layered with its own blended activated carbon filter and non-woven fabric filter.
One of the two core technologies, the filter using "antibacterial ceramics," is a product of LIXIL's long-standing ceramic technology. It is certified by SIAA (the Antibacterial Product Technology Council) as a high antibacterial ceramic, suppressing the growth of bacteria and always delivering safe purification.
The other one is the technology of "proprietary blended activated carbon." The substances removed by activated carbon vary depending on the raw materials. LIXIL maximizes purification performance through its unique blending technology. Moreover, through a patented manufacturing process of "granulated fine powdered carbon," which involves crushing activated carbon to a micro level and recombining it into spherical shapes using newly developed special fibers, the contact area has been drastically expanded while also achieving reduced clogging from harmful substance particles. This innovation has allowed the cartridge life to be extended to about twice that of conventional products, making it the longest-lasting in the industry, thus reducing the hassle of replacements.
As for water purification, the first priority should be the safety of drinking water. At LIXIL, the entire process from the manufacturing of ceramic filters, blending of activated carbon, to the assembly of cartridges is carried out in our domestic factories. We are dedicated to daily improvements in technology with the industry's highest standards of testing and quality control.
 From left to right, Ceramic filter, + activated carbon filter, + non-woven fabric filter |  |
LIXIL's water purification faucets aim to reduce environmental load in both the manufacturing process and usage of cartridges and faucet fittings.
・Manufacturing process (Design with environmental consideration)The water purification cartridge features a compact design using an antibacterial ceramic filter and a proprietary blend of activated carbon. By using natural materials, the use of Plastics is reduced. Additionally, the long-life type cartridge improves purification ability through the new technology "granule micro powder carbon," doubling the lifespan compared to conventional products.*1. This reduces the number of replacements by half, thereby decreasing waste.
By effectively utilizing purified water, the hassle of going out to buy water is eliminated, and delicious purified water can be enjoyed immediately from the tap. A single all-in-one faucet water purification cartridge measuring just 11 cm can produce approximately 2,400 liters of purified water.* This is equivalent to 1,200 two-liter PET bottles. Furthermore, by combining eco-friendly handles that prevent unconscious use of hot water with touchless faucets that allow for easy water discharge and stop just by waving a hand over the Sensor, energy-saving and water-saving can be naturally achieved, leading to savings on utility bills and reduction of CO₂.*For long-life cartridges (standard type, economy type)
3. History of LIXIL's water purification: It started with "making pool water drinkable during disasters."
In fact, LIXIL's water purification began as a challenge to convert pool water into drinking water during disasters. In the early 1990s, LIXIL (then known as INAX) was presented with the difficult question of whether the water from the National Sports Science Center's pool, which trains athletes, could be used as drinking water in emergencies. LIXIL solved this problem through filtration equipment utilizing the advanced purification capabilities of ceramic filters, successfully turning pool water into drinking water. This experience led to the development of LIXIL's home water purifiers, connecting years of accumulated ceramic manufacturing technology to water creation.
LIXIL will continue to pursue improvements in water purification technology and the provision of high-quality services, focusing on spreading awareness so that more people can use these solutions, contributing to the realization of rich and comfortable living environments that everyone desires.
Note 1: Comparison between conventional products and long-lasting types. The high-grade type is approximately 1.3 times.
Note 2: As of September 2024, based on company research. This refers to the cartridges for built-in water purification faucets using standard and economy type activated carbon filters. The total filtered water amount is referred to as lifespan. Source: Catalogs and websites of member companies of the Water Purification Association.
■About the 100th anniversary of LIXIL's water and tile business.
In 2024, LIXIL's domestic water and tile business in Japan celebrates its 100th anniversary. Since the establishment of Ina Seito, the predecessor of INAX, in 1924, it has continued to pursue new values for living and has created numerous innovations.
As social environments and needs are significantly changing now and towards the future, we will continue to challenge ourselves for the everyday happiness found in customers' lives, based on the innovative technologies and insights cultivated over the past 100 years.
