In brief
- Measures direct and indirect water use, including the supply chain.
- Distinguishes three components: blue, green and grey footprint.
- Calculated using the Water Footprint Network methodology.
- The study concludes with reduction recommendations and, if your company wishes, validation by a certification body.
The three colours of the water footprint
- Blue footprint: water incorporated into the product from natural sources, such as rivers or springs.
- Green footprint: rainwater, snow or meltwater incorporated into the product. It focuses mainly on soil evapotranspiration in agricultural and forestry activities.
- Grey footprint: the volume of water needed to assimilate the pollutant load released in production processes until the quality required by local regulations is reached.
Who is it for?
Companies that want to start monitoring and reducing their water consumption.
What does the study include?
It covers direct and indirect water use, including the supply chain. We assess the water use of the organisation, a process or a product and give you quantitative and qualitative information to move towards more sustainable use of fresh water.
How it is calculated
- Purpose and scope
We define what is assessed and with what objective. The scope sets the level of detail of the analysis and makes it possible to identify the hotspots. - Data collection
We determine the amount of water used, its type, and when and where it is consumed, as well as the quality of the wastewater. - Calculation of the total footprint
We obtain the total water footprint, broken down into its blue, green and grey components. - Recommendations
We propose measures to reduce each component and a guide for communicating your commitments and progress to stakeholders. - Validation (optional)
Your company may submit the result to an independent audit by a certification body.
What does the study enable you to do?
- Assess the pressure your activity places on water resources.
- Understand the geographical and temporal distribution of the water used by the activities analysed.
- Evaluate the sustainability, efficiency and equity of water use and pollution.
- Identify specific actions for your organisation at local, regional, national or global scale.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the blue and the grey footprint?
The blue footprint measures water from natural sources incorporated into the product. The grey footprint measures the water that would be needed to dilute the pollution generated until the required quality is met.
Is it compulsory to certify the result?
No. Validation by a certification body is optional and is carried out through an independent audit once the footprint has been calculated.
Is suppliers' water taken into account?
Yes. The study covers direct water use as well as indirect use along the supply chain.