Geberit reduces activities in Russia but faces questions over whether it has gone far enough
Accessible bathroom manufacturer Geberit has announced the immediate suspension of all of its business operations in Russia.
The company has halted selling its premium and luxury products such as shower toilets for hotels, stopped taking orders from new customers and ended its marketing activities.
All 70 employees at the company’s offices in Moscow, who ensured sales, will continue to receive their respective salaries. The firm has already shut its factory and offices in Ukraine.
“We will closely monitor further developments, and the decision regarding the Russian business will be reviewed promptly,” Geberit stated in a press release.
The statement drew a strong response from members of the mobility and access industry on social media forums, such as Linkedin. While some commentators said Geberit’s response was a “great move”, others criticized it for continuing to pay Russian staff not to work, with one commentator stating that it is effectively “putting money into the Russian economy”.
The firm had previously said that it was continuing its operations in Russia but Western companies still operating in Russia have come under increasing pressure to halt their activities.
Geberit is the European market leader in sanitary products which combine adaptability with clever features, creating more independence for the user in the bathroom. The company, which has been in business for a century-and-a-half, owns 26 production facilities and employs 12,000 people in 50 countries.
