If the idea of a recycled water shower makes you say “Ew,” you’re not alone. But as drought conditions intensify across the West—underscored by last year’s California wildfires—water scarcity feels less hypothetical than it once might have. Who among us hasn’t whiled away the minutes, zoned out in a delicious warm shower, as gallons of clean water pour straight down the drain?
Over two packed days at the 2026 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, we saw hundreds of products focused on luxury aesthetics and smart-home convenience. But it was the sustainable innovations that have stuck with us above all.
Here, a few of the standouts.
Longer Showers Without the Guilt
Kohler is far from the first manufacturer to produce a recirculating shower. Danish company Flow Loop and the Canada-based RainStick Shower are among the brands who got there first. But Kohler’s new Anthem EvoCycle, which was among the biggest draws at its KBIS booth, is by far the most mainstream entry into the category.
The most important fact to get out of the way: Banish any image of a communal tank storing everyone’s dirty water. The only recycled water comes from your own shower session. Also worth knowing: The system gives users full control. You can take a normal shower with fresh water and toggle on the recycling function once you’ve soaped up and rinsed off, so you’re never stewing in your own bathwater. And the recycled water is always combined with some fresh water, which keeps the temperature to your liking.
Kohler says the Anthem EvoCycle is designed to “conserve without compromise,” and reportedly delivers up to 80% water savings while maintaining full water pressure. The company also notes it can be installed by any licensed plumber, which removes one of the biggest barriers to adoption for a product like this.
Low-Flush Toilets That Still Do the Deed
It’s all about the GPF, or gallons per flush. After showers, toilets are among the biggest water wasters in the home. (According to the EPA, flushing accounts for nearly 30% of indoor water use.) Two of the biggest names in bathrooms spotlighted innovative flush technology at KBIS. Toto’s Aurora Washlet+ S7A One-Piece Toilet features what the brand calls its Integravity System—a dual-valve, nested-tank design engineered to clean the bowl and rim up to five times more effectively than standard gravity flush systems—while using just 1.28 or 1.0 gallons per flush. (The average American toilet uses 1.6 gallons per flush; toilets older than 30 years can use more than 4 GPF.) Kohler, meanwhile, debuted its Leap Dual-Wand Smart Toilet (the dual wand refers to its “industry-first” front sprayer designed specifically for women, alongside a standard back spray), which operates at 1.0 GPF and 1.28 GPF. Even more impressive, the Kohler Numi 2.0 pushes water efficiency to .8 GPF.
The New Face of Engineered Stone
In recent years, crystalline silica has come under an industry microscope, as researchers have revealed the health hazards of fabricating silica-dense engineered stone. Several manufacturers have pivoted to low- and no-silica compositions—Cosentino, Purevana, and Caesarstone among them. This season, Cosentino is adding to its low-dose offering with the unveiling of Éclos, a new portfolio of low-silica and recycled mineral surfaces. At KBIS, the manufacturer put this debut center stage, cladding the booth’s Parisian-style café in the earthy brown, richly veined “Legnd” colorway. Éclos surfaces are developed in multiple layers to capture the depth and intricacies of a naturally aged stone, while providing durability and heat resistancy up to 428 degrees F. Also worth knowing: Cosentino’s production facilities use 100% renewable energy and 99% recycled water.
The Plant-Based Paint Boom
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have long been the uninvited guests in our homes—lurking in fresh paint and quietly compromising the air we breathe. Homeowners are increasingly pushing back, requesting low- or no-VOC interior paints. Edward Bulmer, Auro, and Green Planet Paints have been among the pioneers of bio-based paint compounds, and now Sherwin-Williams is set to launch plant-based interior paint Emerald Symmetry. Derived from plant oils, the zero-VOC paint (hitting shelves this March) meets a number of industry green-standard certifications and promises your walls—and lungs—will thank you.
