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Studying Corporate Engagement on Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hy…

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Studying Corporate Engagement on Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

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Amazon
Area: 5888268 km2
Countries:
Brazil; Peru; Suriname; France; Colombia; Guyana; Bolivia; Venezuela; Ecuador
Cities:
Santa Cruz; Manaus; La Paz
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Sanitation Access Stress:
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Project Overview

It is estimated that one in five people are employed in global supply chains. Corporations have the potential to play an influential role in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6, “ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” Supply-chain-focused actions can reach those most at risk from lack of access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). But water stewardship initiatives often focus on physical and regulatory water risk, r…

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It is estimated that one in five people are employed in global supply chains. Corporations have the potential to play an influential role in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6, “ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” Supply-chain-focused actions can reach those most at risk from lack of access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). But water stewardship initiatives often focus on physical and regulatory water risk, rather than addressing the quantity and quality of water resources available at the site and basin scale.

WaterAid, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate collaborated on this project to research opportunities for supply-chain WASH engagement. Past WASH stewardship often focused on providing WASH services in core company operations or to local communities through NGO partnerships. This study sought to advance the vanguard of water stewardship by exploring WASH actions driven by supply chains. The partners jointly commissioned Water Witness International to conduct research to guide water stewardship. The project had two primary objectives:

1) Build knowledge for corporate action on WASH in supply chains, develop compelling case studies to illustrate the business case, and identify opportunities to improve impact.

2) Make recommendations on impactful integration of WASH into voluntary standards, and identify standards systems to support and document SDG6 actions. This report provided a high-level summary of the research.

Project Results

The project advanced corporate WASH stewardship by exploring opportunities for WASH advocacy within supply chains. The study concluded that socio-economic water risks can only be mitigated by universal and sustainable access to water-related services. SDG6 explicitly links WASH to water resource management, further emphasizing that companies must consider water holistically to address shared water challenges. This project published key recommendations for the commissioning partners and the policy community. The project team published compelling case studies of Diageo, Nestle, and Gap, Inc., detailing the actions of these companies to support WASH in their supply chains.

Partner Organizations


The CEO Water Mandate mobilizes business leaders to advance water stewardship, sanitation, and the Sustainable Development Goals – in partnership with the United Nations, governments, peers, civil society, and others. Endorsers of the CEO Water Mandate recognize that they can … Learn More

Diageo plc is a British multinational alcoholic beverages company, with its headquarters in London, England. Diageo is the world's largest producer of spirits and a key producer of beer. Diageo's commitment to water stewardship is outlined in its Blueprint Water … Learn More

The Gap, Inc., commonly known as Gap Inc. or Gap, is an American worldwide clothing and accessories retailer. Our purpose is to be Inclusive, By Design. Gap Inc. includes apparel brands Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta. Learn More

• Nestlé’s ambition is to enhance people’s lives through nutrition, health and wellness. We offer healthier and tastier food and beverage choices at all stages of life and at all times of the day. Based on science and Research and … Learn More

The Pacific Institute envisions a world in which society, the economy, and the environment have the water they need to thrive now and in the future. In pursuit of this vision, the Institute creates and advances solutions to the world’s … Learn More

WaterAid is an international NGO focused exclusively on ensuring equitable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education for the world’s poorest communities. Formed in 1981, we have been working in water, sanitation and hygiene for over 30 years. To … Learn More

A research and advocacy charity working for equitable and sustainable water resource management. We work with all water users to support objective understanding of opportunities and barriers to progress, and to galvanise action based on reliable evidence, transperancy and accountability. Learn More

Giuliana Chaves Moreira
Primary Contact  
Mai-Lan Ha
Admin  

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