A material we spent years perfecting.

Most concrete basins on the market are cast from standard, virgin-aggregate concrete — the same mix you'd use to lay a driveway, dyed and polished to look like a design object. FORMED starts from a different position. Our basins, along with the concrete shells of our Max and Zia cabinets, are cast using a proprietary concrete blend that incorporates recycled materials, developed in-house and refined over years of R&D. We are the only bathroom brand using recycled material in this way — and the result is a material that outperforms standard concrete, and traditional ceramic, on strength.

Why we're the only ones doing this

Recycled aggregate behaves differently to virgin material — batch to batch, its particle size and composition vary — and turning that into a basin that's consistently strong, watertight and beautifully finished takes real expertise. Most manufacturers don't bother. It's far simpler, and cheaper, to cast in standard virgin concrete, or to change the look of a considered material with a painted or coated finish over a plain base.

We have taken the harder path because it produces a better basin. Getting there meant:

• Sourcing and grading recycled aggregate to a standard that performs consistently, cast after cast
• Formulating the mix so pigment runs true through the material, not just on the surface
• Reinforcing every cast with fibre, giving it genuine strength and resistance to cracking or fracturing
• Developing a sealing process that makes the finished piece permanently watertight

A number of other brands working in concrete skip fibre reinforcement altogether to keep costs down — which is exactly where cracking and fracturing tends to start. FORMED reinforces every single piece. 

The result: a stronger material

The outcome of that R&D is a material FORMED is genuinely proud of. It is:

• Fibre reinforced, making it stronger and more resistant to cracking or fracturing than unreinforced concrete
• Stronger than traditional ceramic, which is a brittle material by comparison and prone to chipping or cracking from a single sharp impact
• Pigmented through the material, not painted, so scratches and everyday wear never reveal a different colour beneath
• Permanently sealed, so the surface resists staining without any ongoing treatment
• Lower impact, because a meaningful proportion of the material is reclaimed rather than freshly quarried

Every piece is hand cast to order in our workshop in Essex, England. 

FAQ

Is FORMED's concrete stronger than standard concrete? Yes. FORMED reinforces every cast with fibre and controls the mix formulation closely, producing a material that's stronger and more resistant to cracking than standard, unreinforced concrete.

Is FORMED's concrete stronger than a ceramic basin? Yes. Ceramic is a brittle material and can chip or crack from a single sharp impact. FORMED's fibre-reinforced concrete is engineered to resist exactly that kind of everyday damage, making it a more durable choice for daily use.

Does using recycled materials affect the colour or finish? Yes — and it's part of the appeal. Every casting varies slightly in colour, tone, patina and finish, because it's a hand-cast material rather than a uniform manufactured surface, giving each piece genuine individual character. This is separate from pigment being painted or coated on, which FORMED never does — our colour is mixed through the full body of the material.

Why don't more brands use recycled concrete for basins? It takes real investment to do well. Reclaimed aggregate needs to be sourced, graded and formulated with far more care than virgin material to perform consistently at a premium standard. FORMED developed its blend in-house over many years to get there, which is why we remain the only bathroom brand using recycled material this way.

Which FORMED products are made from concrete, and which aren't? Accessories, Basins, and the Max and Zia cabinet shells, are cast in FORMED's recycled concrete blend. Wireframe, our frame collection, and cabinets such as Bora and Max Metal, are made in metal and wood.

Where are FORMED's concrete pieces made? Every basin and concrete cabinet shell is hand cast to order at FORMED's workshop in Ingatestone, Essex, England.

For more on what separates a well-made concrete basin from a cheap one, read Concrete basins: not all are made equal.

Explore FORMED's concrete basin collection →