After COP26 unfair water footprints must be fixed

Water Witness is a founding member of the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints, mentioned as a key story in this article

7 key stories from water and gender day at COP27

Big business clear winner in Peru's asparagus industry

Nick is the founder and Executive Director of Water Witness. He has worked on sustainable development and water issues for 25 years and advises governments, NGOs, communities and companies on water security and climate change. He is a Research Fellow at the University of East Anglia.

environment

day to day

politics

Dr Nick Hepworth

instagram

twitter

linkedin

<h2>Gifting a mobile phone for Christmas? Love your boxing day chocs? Have you ever wondered how much water it takes to make them?&nbsp;</h2>Charity, <a href="https://waterwitness.org">Water Witness</a>, has rounded up the ‘water footprint’ of our favourite Christmas foods and gifts, and has called on companies to be more responsible in their water use to make sure noone misses out on clean water.&nbsp; Everyday products that we use, from food to clothes to tech, all take water to make and with that comes water pollution. The ‘water footprint’ of these products reflects these water-related impacts, often in countries where water is scarce.Turkey: 4,305 litres per kilo&nbsp; Food doesn’t get more Christmassy than turkey. It takes 4,305 litres of water to produce a kilo of turkey meat- that's 492 litres per serving.&nbsp;One 100g chocolate bar: 1,700 litres of water. Will Santa leave you some chocolate coins in your stocking? What’s boxing day without chocolate for breakfast? And who can resist a wafer-thin mint after dinner?&nbsp;One 100g chocolate bar takes on average 1,700 litres of water to make- that's 17,000 litres per kilo. Cocoa beans, cocoa paste and sugar are sourced from countries including Malawi, Ghana and Indonesia.&nbsp;One mobile phone: 12,000 litres of water. We all love our phones- and whether it's staying in touch with loved ones over the festive period, escaping onto social media in between rounds of board games, or gifting your teenagers the latest model, phones are never far from our hands at Christmas time.&nbsp;But did you know it takes a staggering 12,000 litres of water to make just one mobile phone? The various elements making up our phones come from all over the world, including countries like Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia and China.&nbsp; Pair of jeans: 8,000 litres of water.&nbsp; Whether its matching Christmas jammies for all the family, socks for dad, or that perfect party ‘fit, many of us might be hoping for new clothes under the tree this year.&nbsp;Cotton fabric takes a staggering 10,000 litres of water to produce. A single pair of jeans takes about 8,000 litres of water, a shirt is more like 2,500 litres, and those Christmas socks take about 375 litres. Countries producing textiles and apparel include Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Vietnam.&nbsp; Nuts: 2,782 litres per kilo&nbsp; The nutcracker is an icon of a cosy Christmas.&nbsp;In their shells, our favourite Christmas nuts like peanuts need about 2,782 litres of water per kilo. Unshelled though, it goes up to 3,970 litres per kilo. In the UK, lots of our nuts come from places like India and Brazil.&nbsp;Water Witness Director, Nick Hepworth, said:&nbsp; “Not many people are aware of how much water it takes to produce the goods and foods we enjoy year-round. We’re not saying people shouldn’t be enjoying these staples. But by raising awareness we can shine a light on the companies producing our favourite items and help make sure they are being responsible in their water use.&nbsp;Four billion people — almost two thirds of the world's population — experience severe water scarcity each year. Over two billion people live in countries where water supply is inadequate.&nbsp;By ensuring fair water use becomes the global business norm, through initiatives like the Fair Water Footprints Campaign, we can ensure everyone has access to sustainable water and sanitation- improving health, creating jobs, and protecting nature.”&nbsp; Water Witness is a founding member of the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints, a partnership bringing together global companies, investors, governments and NGOs to harness the power of trade, enterprise and communities to deliver sustainable water for all.&nbsp; Downloadable infographic available <a href="https://wetransfer.com/downloads/9d61384c27a6e7da37666fa985e4adb220221214154328/aedb0754506b21a87abc517382571ea820221214154345/545830  ">here</a>. [1] Statistics from Water Footprint Network https://waterfootprint.org/en/resources/interactive-tools/product-gallery/&nbsp;&nbsp; and Water Footprint Calculator https://www.watercalculator.org/water-footprint-of-food-guide/&nbsp; [2] The Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints aims to make responsible water resource management the global business norm. The Glasgow Declaration’s founding partners bring together some of the wealthiest and poorest countries on the planet. They include the Governments of the UK, Austria, Finland, Madagascar, Malawi, Panama, and Peru, working alongside multinational corporations and investment companies such as Unilever, Diageo and ACTIAM, and civil society organisations, including Water Witness, CDP and WaterAid. www.fairwaterfootprints.org&nbsp; [3] Water Witness was set up in Edinburgh in 2008, and works with those at the sharp end of the world’s water crisis to shine a light on its impacts, understand its root causes and activate an effective response. www.waterwitness.org&nbsp; &nbsp;<blockquote>“Not many people are aware of how much water it takes to produce the goods and foods we enjoy all year-round. We’re not saying people shouldn’t be enjoying these staples. But by raising awareness we can shine a light on the companies producing our favourite items and help make sure they are being responsible in their water use. Four billion people — almost two thirds of the world's population — experience severe water scarcity each year. Over two billion people live in countries where water supply is inadequate. “By ensuring fair water use becomes the global business norm, through initiatives like the Fair Water Footprints Campaign, we can ensure everyone has access to sustainable water and sanitation- improving health, creating jobs, and protecting nature.”</blockquote>

Thirsty Christmas: the water needed to make our Christmas faves

+ Survey finds 96% of people say they are concerned about the global water crisis&nbsp; + Despite cost of living crisis, more than half of shoppers [52%] say they’d be willing to pay more for a product if it carried a certification of responsible water use- a ‘Fair Water Footprint’- in its production and supply chain&nbsp; + Around two-thirds of shoppers say they would be more likely to buy items such as clothes, food and tech from companies that were committed to a Fair Water Footprint&nbsp; UK shoppers say they’re more likely to buy from companies committed to sustainable and fair water use in their operations around the globe- and despite the cost of living crisis, more than half of consumers say they’d be willing to pay more for products that can certify responsible water use. [1]&nbsp; A YouGov survey commissioned by international charity Water Witness, published today, finds high levels of concern amongst the UK public about the global water crisis, and ‘sends a clear message to companies’ making products from clothes to mobile phones about consumer spending preferences.&nbsp; Of over 2000 UK consumers surveyed:&nbsp; 95% of people say they are concerned about their water footprints- the amount of water it takes to produce the items we consume, from food to tech&nbsp; 95% of people say they are concerned about companies using lots of water in poorer nations around the world to produce the goods we buy here at home&nbsp; The poll found people were willing to put their money where their mouth is, with almost two thirds of people saying they’d prefer to buy from companies working to reduce the impacts of their water use:&nbsp; 62% say they would be more likely to buy from a company that had committed to zero water pollution and 63% said they’d be more likely to buy from a company committed to fair water use in its operations around the world&nbsp; 65% say they would be more likely to buy from a company that committed to ensuring all its workers had access to safe water&nbsp; 63% saythey’d be more likely to buy from a company working to reduce climate change impacts&nbsp; Despite only 24% of those surveyed saying they were already aware of water footprints, once explained, consumers were keen to back the concept, with 52% of UK shoppers even saying they would be willing to pay more for a Fair Water Footprint-certified product.&nbsp; Commenting on the survey findings, Dr Nick Hepworth, director of Water Witness International said:&nbsp; “These findings show that despite the cost-of-living crisis, UK consumers are willing to put their money where their mouth is to ensure no-one around the world lacks access to fresh water or faces worsening climate impacts because of the way the products we are buying get made.&nbsp; “Shoppers are sending companies a message: ‘get real’ and put an end to water abuse in your supply chains if you want our money. And companies would do well to listen, not only for ethical reasons but also because fair water footprints make business sense. People are more likely to choose their products and are willing to pay more to guarantee their choices are not affecting people’s access to water worldwide.”&nbsp; Hepworth continued,&nbsp; “Shoppers shouldn’t have to dig deeper into their own pockets to ensure that companies behave responsibly. Our Fair Water Footprints initiative is about making fair water use the global business norm. When water is used responsibly, corporations’ water footprints can help create jobs, trade and much needed export revenue in some of the most climate vulnerable and water scarce regions of the world.”&nbsp; Cate Lamb, Global Director of Water Security at CDP, a not-for-profit that runs the global disclosure system for investors and companies to manage their environmental impacts, said:&nbsp; “Transforming water use and pollution across business value chains is essential to stemming the nature, water and climate crises. The 680 investors that CDP engages have woken up to the risks that business inaction poses, and what today’s results clearly indicate are the significant opportunities also to be seized.&nbsp; “In 2023, CDP will invite almost 7,000 companies to report the actions they are taking in response to the global water crisis. Evidence shows us that those targeting Fair Water Footprints and investing for a fairer water future for all will be best placed to succeed.”&nbsp; The survey comes a year after the launch of the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints- a collaboration between 26 partners including global businesses such as Diageo, Sainsbury’s and Danone, governments including the UK, Finland, Malawi, Madagascar, Peru and Panama, and civil society organisations including Water Witness, CDP and Chatham House. The partnership aims to change the way water is used in global supply chains and put an end to water abuses and overuse.&nbsp; Andrianaritsifa Ravalonson, from the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Government of Madagascar, said:&nbsp; “Madagascar is a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints because we know that the question of water resources is undeniably part of our path against poverty and climate vulnerability. 65% of our rural population does not have access to safe water, and only 10% have access to sanitation. It is therefore essential to work together within global supply networks to encourage and ensure the rational management of water resources.&nbsp; “A fair water footprint is not only an absolute necessity, but an urgent priority.”&nbsp; The Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints is now open to new members from businesses, financial institutions, governments and civil society, with new signatories to be announced at the landmark UN Water conference in New York in March 2023.&nbsp; ENDS&nbsp; Notes to editors:&nbsp; [1] The findings of the YouGov survey can be found here https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/jbc0ennaxd/YouGov%20-%20Waterwitness%20-%20Water%20crisis.pdf&nbsp; Water Witness commissioned this survey from YouGov, who surveyed 2000+ UK adults in October 2022&nbsp; Water Witness was set up in Edinburgh in 2008, and works with those at the sharp end of the world’s water crisis to shine a light on its impacts, understand its root causes and activate an effective response. www.waterwitness.org&nbsp; [2] The Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints aims to make responsible water resource management the global business norm. The Glasgow Declaration’s founding partners bring together some of the wealthiest and poorest countries on the planet. They include the Governments of the UK, Austria, Finland, Madagascar, Malawi, Panama, and Peru, working alongside multinational corporations and investment companies such as Unilever, Diageo and ACTIAM, and civil society organisations, including Water Witness, CDP and WaterAid. www.fairwaterfootprints.org&nbsp; &nbsp;<blockquote>Commenting on the survey findings, Dr Nick Hepworth, director of Water Witness International said: “These findings show that despite the cost-of-living crisis, UK consumers are willing to put their money where their mouth is to ensure no-one around the world lacks access to fresh water or faces worsening climate impacts because of the way the products we are buying get made. “Shoppers are sending companies a message: ‘get real’ and put an end to water abuse in your supply chains if you want our money. And companies would do well to listen, not only for ethical reasons but also because fair water footprints make business sense. People are more likely to choose their products and are willing to pay more to guarantee their choices are not affecting people’s access to water worldwide.” Hepworth continued, “Shoppers shouldn’t have to dig deeper into their own pockets to ensure that companies behave responsibly. Our Fair Water Footprints initiative is about making fair water use the global business norm. When water is used responsibly, corporations’ water footprints can help create jobs, trade and much needed export revenue in some of the most climate vulnerable and water scarce regions of the world.” Cate Lamb, Global Director of Water Security at CDP, a not-for-profit that runs the global disclosure system for investors and companies to manage their environmental impacts, said: “Transforming water use and pollution across business value chains is essential to stemming the nature, water and climate crises. The 680 investors that CDP engages have woken up to the risks that business inaction poses, and what today’s results clearly indicate are the significant opportunities also to be seized. “In 2023, CDP will invite almost 7,000 companies to report the actions they are taking in response to the global water crisis. Evidence shows us that those targeting Fair Water Footprints and investing for a fairer water future for all will be best placed to succeed.” Andrianaritsifa Ravalonson, from the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Government of Madagascar, said: “Madagascar is a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints because we know that the question of water resources is undeniably part of our path against poverty and climate vulnerability. 65% of our rural population does not have access to safe water, and only 10% have access to sanitation. It is therefore essential to work together within global supply networks to encourage and ensure the rational management of water resources. “A fair water footprint is not only an absolute necessity, but an urgent priority.”</blockquote>

UK consumers thirsty for water justice:  Over half of shoppers more likely to buy from companies- and willing to pay more for products-  that guarantee ethical water use 

has been added

Address

Media Pack / Portfolio

Dr Nick Hepworth

Media Coverage