05.18.23
In order to help meet its goal of building a water positive future, P&G in partnership with the World Resources Institute has developed a new method to estimate the annual water consumed when people use its products.
The output was total water consumed during product use (e.g., while shampooing in the shower) across 18 priority basins in seven countries where facilities in priority consumer markets are exposed to chronic high baseline water stress.
In response to these insights, P&G’s corporate target is to restore 110% of the water consumed in these two priority basins.
The company will work to achieve these goals by partnering with experts to support water restoration projects that improve, better manage or protect freshwater resources.
These projects will provide a range of solutions to protect ecosystems, replenish groundwater supplies, reduce the amount of water diverted from essential bodies of water and improve water quality for the community and the wildlife that depends on them.
This consumer-use target is in addition to the target of restoring 110% of water consumed at P&G manufacturing sites in all 18 priority water-stressed basins. Basin boundaries and names were derived using WRI’s Aqueduct data underlying the Water Risk Atlas tool, including HydroSHEDS Level 6 boundaries and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations basin nomenclature.
“While there is no simple solution for the world’s water crisis, we are determined to address shared water challenges within 18 water-stressed areas around the world where we operate because we know it is where we can make the biggest difference,” P&G said in a statement. “Our strategy will continue to evolve alongside our understanding of all the complex issues facing the world’s water resources. We will also continue to support a wide range of partners to amplify positive impact and accelerate simple solutions to help build a water positive future for all.”
Methodology
Water consumption was estimated using a combination of market and shipment data from P&G, estimated household water consumption, and basin-level population data.The output was total water consumed during product use (e.g., while shampooing in the shower) across 18 priority basins in seven countries where facilities in priority consumer markets are exposed to chronic high baseline water stress.
Findings & Actions
Utilizing this novel method, P&G found that the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Mexico City account for over half of the water consumed during the use of P&G products.In response to these insights, P&G’s corporate target is to restore 110% of the water consumed in these two priority basins.
The company will work to achieve these goals by partnering with experts to support water restoration projects that improve, better manage or protect freshwater resources.
These projects will provide a range of solutions to protect ecosystems, replenish groundwater supplies, reduce the amount of water diverted from essential bodies of water and improve water quality for the community and the wildlife that depends on them.
This consumer-use target is in addition to the target of restoring 110% of water consumed at P&G manufacturing sites in all 18 priority water-stressed basins. Basin boundaries and names were derived using WRI’s Aqueduct data underlying the Water Risk Atlas tool, including HydroSHEDS Level 6 boundaries and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations basin nomenclature.
“While there is no simple solution for the world’s water crisis, we are determined to address shared water challenges within 18 water-stressed areas around the world where we operate because we know it is where we can make the biggest difference,” P&G said in a statement. “Our strategy will continue to evolve alongside our understanding of all the complex issues facing the world’s water resources. We will also continue to support a wide range of partners to amplify positive impact and accelerate simple solutions to help build a water positive future for all.”
