Water Footprint

The Water Footprint is an indicator that measures the total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed by a person, a community, or a company. This indicator includes both water consumed directly, such as that used for agricultural irrigation, and water that is indirectly consumed during the production phases of a good, for example that necessary to grow cotton for a t-shirt or to feed animals destined for meat production.

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The 3 components of the water footprint

The Water Footprint is divided into 3 main components.

1. Blue water footprint: water taken from surface or underground sources and used in production processes, which is not returned to the original water system.

2. Green water footprint: rainwater stored in the soil and used by plants during agricultural production.

3. Gray water footprint: water necessary to dilute the pollutants generated during the production process, so that the water quality returns to natural levels.

Over the past 100 years, global water use has grown significantly and will continue to grow due to population growth and economic development. Many everyday products, such as clothing or food, have a high water footprint that is often not immediately visible.

Water footprint

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Why calculate the water footprint

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Calculate the water footprint allows organizations to:

- understand direct and indirect water consumption.

- identify opportunities to reduce water use and minimize environmental impact.

- improve transparency and communication regarding the sustainability of its operations.

In addition, organizations can certify their Water Footprint following the ISO 14046 standard, ensuring that the water footprint assessment is accurate and reliable.