Coca-Cola, Nestlé and other top brands sign water initiative for World Water Day
Major UK food and beverage brands and retailers have given their backing to Courtauld 2025 water initiative, to try and monitor and reduce water use in their operations for World Water Day (22 March).
Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, and the Co-op are just some of the major companies that have pledged to support the initiative led the by the charity WRAP, which aims to help communities achieve a circular economy by reducing waste, using resources effectively and developing sustainable products.
By 2030, the UN has predicted that global demand for fresh water will exceed supply due to climate change, human action and population growth.
Therefore, the Courtauld 2025 initiative aims to tackle water stress and improve water efficiency.
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“The Courtauld Commitment 2025 water ambition is a practical response to the growing problem of water stress,” he said.
“With WWF, the Rivers Trust and other leading water experts we’ve created a collaborative programme that works on a localised level, dealing directly at source with issues specific within each catchment area. Under the umbrella of the water ambition, we can assess how individual projects are making a collective difference, and help scale these up.”
The latest initiative coincides with World Water day which highlights the importance of safeguarding and sustainably managing the world’s water resources.
Signatory Coca-Cola has reduced its water usage by 10.3% since 2010 and also works with NGOs to replenish 100% of the water it uses in water-stressed areas.
US retailer Target has also made significant efforts to improve its water efficiency and, by 2025, it aims to slash absolute water use by 15% for stores, distribution centres and headquarters locations based against the 2010 baseline.
Pernod Ricard, the US spirits and wine company behind brands such as Absolut Vodka, has also announced that it reduced water consumption by 17% per litre of alcohol produced between 2010 and 201.