In our previous water footprint post we have given you some useful tips in order to diminish the water footprint of your daily choirs and activities inside and outside the house. As you might have found out from our article a majority of water pollution is caused by industrial waste. Many firm dump harmful chemical and metal in freshwater sources that often cause the death of aquatic animals and the imbalance of ecosystems. In addition to posing a direct threat to all the living creatures in the sea, this contaminated water is the same water that we use to shower or wash our hands daily. Water pollution is also raising a brick wall in front of simple yet vital activities like fishing or swimming in a natural wetland. Now that you have read our useful tips on how to reduce the water footprint of your daily consumptions this post offers a series of tips and useful advice for corporations and firms of all size to conserve water and lower their water footprint. Corporate social responsibility in order to preserve water adds equity to a company’s identity but most importantly enables to diminish their expenses.

The water footprint of a business can simply be defined as the entire volume of fresh water used directly and indirectly in order to keep a business running and alive.  A distinction needs to be made between the operational water footprint, “the direct water use by the business in its own operations” and the supply-chain water footprint “the water use in the business’s supply chain” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/CorporateWaterFootprintAccountingFramework).  Many companies who do not have a direct agriculture activity in itself but work with natural products like crop or milk, often have a supply-chain water footprint that is considerably larger than its operational footprint. Once the product is finalized and used by actual consumers, this part of the consumption is part of a usage water footprint calculated separately.

Looking at the water scarcity issue taking over the world, while businesses focus on increasing production and maximizing their profits, they often forget that sooner or later the same companies might have to deal with water shortage in their supply chains. In order to be forward-looking and business savvy, industries should transform the risk created by the issue of water scarcity around the world, into a potential opportunity: “frontrunners that create product transparency before other do, that formulate specific and measurable targets with respect to water footprint reduction, with special attention to areas where problems of water scarcity and pollution are most critical, can turn this into a competitive advantage” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/CorporateWaterFootprints). It is interesting to note that the supply-chain water footprint of most companies is greater than their water footprint on the front of their operational procedures. In this sense, it could be reasonable and more cost efficient for a firm to concentrate on reducing the use of water in their supply-chain in order to lower the cost of production and to contemporarily adopt a environmental-friendly attitude. Most firms seem to believe that having the appropriate water use license is enough; while this is not completely true. A valid suggestion is to “ look into the spatiotemporal details of the company’s water footprint, because details on where and when water is used can be used as input to a detailed water footprint sustainability” (Source: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/CorporateWaterFootprints). This process assures the company the possibility to clearly evaluate the direct economical and environmental impact in order to plan an appropriate business solution. Firms should also keep in mind that return water flows can be reused in other activities.

While it would be irrational to expect and demand to a firm to reduce completely its water usage both a valid alternative to be adopted by firms is the “Water neutral concept”. This concept encourages individuals and firms to pursue water conservation activities to make up for their daily water waste and water consumption activities. In order to compensate for activities that use a high water footprint, actors should invest their time and money into parallel water sustainable activities in order to “neutralize” the water waste. The strength of this concept “lies in its positive connotation, which may trigger communities and businesses to act where otherwise they might not have done so” (Source: http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/938/The_science_of_clean_water.html).  Clear standards and a measurement scale need to be implemented at the international level in order to be able to monitor the results that would serve as a greater incentive for corporations and offer them the possibility to see the concrete positive impact they are having on the environment.

This concept of water-neutral is still new and many questions need to be solved. Yet, this valid initiative has a strong value both from a corporate and environmentalist point of view. Every single individual company that accepts to be a part of the water-neutral concept counts as one small step towards making this a new business prerogative. Water scarcity and water pollution are one of the world’s most important problems that can be prevented. If the right mentality is implemented at the individual level and further on spread at the corporate level, with time and long-term commitment a positive change can happen.