Water scarcity

DEFINITION: A lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region.

 

Related items

The signatories will reconvene annually to share their progress and best practice across catchments

Corporate giants team up to champion UK water stewardship

Marks & Spencer (M&S), Asda and Coca-Cola are among the 60 businesses and NGOs that have committed to a new initiative which aims to tackle water scarcity and stress in the UK through collaborative catchment management.
The update came with pledges to donate a further £4.5m to NGOs helping to tackle water scarcity in Asia

PepsiCo expands stewardship efforts across water-stressed regions

Food and drink manufacturing giant PepsiCo has announced that its campaign to expand access to safe water in its areas of operation has provided 16 million people with clean water, putting it on track to reach 25 million by 2025.
The WSBF claims that almost 2.5 million British homes will be at risk of flooding by 2050

Cross-party report urges Government to champion water efficiency in built environment

A coalition of corporations, politicians, academics and public-sector bodies has called on the UK Government to include flooding and drought risks in its housing agenda, after finding that 129% more UK homes will be at risk of flooding by 2050.
To mark the occasion of World Water Day, many in the corporate sphere have made new commitments and highlighted existing efforts to improve water quality and efficiency

World Water Day: Top brands and retailers sign up to new Courtauld 2025 water ambition

The likes of Coca-Cola, Sainsbury's and Tesco have all given their backing to a new Courtauld 2025 water ambition, amid a flurry of corporate activity around water efficiency on World Water Day (22 March).
Launched under the job-posting, “the best job for the world. Probably”, the community roles will target climate change mitigation and water scarcity solutions

'Probably the best job for the world': Carlsberg launches young scientists community

Global brewer Carlsberg is seeking to create a community of young scientists to develop new projects and set industry standards for science-based and sustainability-driven research that will help the company deliver its CSR strategy.
The blackwater system will reduce the building’s water footprint by 76%

In practice: Salesforce's largest US blackwater recycling system

As part of a move to redefine its business purpose through staff well-being and sustainability, Salesforce has used its flagship San Francisco headquarters to champion water efficiency in an area notorious for severe droughts.
Jindal claimed that the banking community is working hard to create a “pipeline of bankable projects”, but that communication barriers remained

Water risks still 'invisible' to finance sector, says ING

Commercial banks are struggling to overcome a communications barrier with businesses to gain insight into portfolio risks specifically associated with water, according to Dutch bank ING's vice president for sustainable finance Ambika Jindal.
According to CDP, 53 companies – or 7% of the disclosing respondents – have created internal value costs associated to water that are otherwise absent from pricing and decision making

Business focus on water management reaching 'record levels', says CDP

The number of big businesses investing in water security has reached "record levels", with new analysis from CDP finding that more than $23bn has been invested in 2017 as some companies place an "internal price on water" to justify funding decisions.
According to the WWC, €100bn will be needed annually to create adequate new water infrastructure, while a further €155bn will be required to improve current equipment

World Water Council: Water infrastructure investment must to triple to combat climate change

As UN delegates meet in Bonn this week to commence the COP23 climate conference, the World Water Council (WWC) has reported that financial investment into water infrastructure needs to triple to €255bn annually to combat climate change and meet sanitation targets.
Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestlé and Diageo were amongst the highest-scoring brands

Water-hungry food companies ignoring supply chain risks, report finds

Just six of the world's largest food companies have set sustainable water-sourcing targets for the majority of their agricultural inputs, as a new report reveals that water risks in the supply chain are still largely ignored.
CDP's report highlights that cities and companies are aware of water risks, but ways to tackle issues remain unclear

World Water Week: 10 shocking facts about the global water crisis

As research released for World Water Week (27 August - 1 September) warns that more than 100 cities face flood-related risks similar to those currently being felt in Houston, edie dives deep into the data to pull out 10 alarming statistics which underline why businesses must act NOW.
Growing sustainability issues such as deforestation, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, fresh-water scarcity and the build-up of carbon emissions are all increasing stress on natural resources, according to Global Footprint Network

Earth Overshoot Day: Humanity has exhausted all of 2017's natural resources

Humanity has already used up its entire annual budget of planetary resources such as water, soil and clean air on the earliest day of the year since the Earth first went into "overshoot" in the early 1970s, according to research organisation Global Footprint Network.
MillerCoors is delivering a

Brewing for the future: How MillerCoors slashed its water footprint through supplier engagement

A supply chain management philosophy built on engagement over enforcement enabled brewer MillerCoors to reduce its water footprint by 17% last year. Here, Matt Mace investigates how the firm has been galvanising the farmer community to create resilient, future-proofed beer supply chains.
Waterwise urged the water sector to improve the information made available to customers on the water efficiency of products they buy

Water firms urged to scale up efficiency ambition

Water companies must scale up ambition and innovation in their water efficiency programmes with customers, according to not-for-profit organisation Waterwise.

Sector insight: The state of sustainability in retail

This edie insight report explores some of the key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainable business within the UK retail sector.

edie Explains: The circular economy

This brand new edie Explains guide breaks down everything there is to know about achieving a circular economy for your business.

edie Explains: Greening your fleet

What are the business benefits of transitioning to low-carbon vehicles? Which fuel types are the most efficient? And what role can technology play in changing driver behaviours? This free edie Explains guide provides everything you need to know when it comes to greening your fleet.

edie Explains: Energy resilience

Energy resilience is about ensuring a business has a reliable, regular supply of energy and contingency measures in place in the event of a power failure.

The smarter sustainability reporting handbook

A new era is upon us: the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Modern Slavery Act (MSA) and the Task Force on Climate- related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) have together paved the way for an entirely new approach to corporate sustainability.
The 25-year Environment Plan includes pledges to eliminate avoidable waste and introduce new safeguards for wildlife

25-year Environment Plan: UK unveils long-term strategy for 'greener future'

Theresa May has today outlined a vision for a "cleaner, greener Britain", unveiling the long-awaited 25-year Environment Plan which pledges to eliminate all "avoidable" plastic waste by the end of 2042.

Taking the lead on energy: 10 business examples of low-carbon innovation

The global energy system is undergoing a radical transition. Renewable energy costs are tumbling and new approaches to energy management such as battery storage and demand response are offering new ways for organisations to operate more sustainably.
edie has once again pulled the best innovation stories of the week into this neat and tidy little green package

Ocean plastic credit cards and solar-powered robots: The best green innovations of the week

A number of eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations have emerged that could help businesses and nations deliver on resource efficiency, low-carbon transitions and combat climate change. Here, edie rounds-up six of the best.
Starbucks is working with Pentatonic to turn post-consumer plastic waste and coffee cups into furniture

Starbucks targets a plastics circular economy to drive waste management

EXCLUSIVE: There is no "competitive leverage" to be gained by failing to work with rival brands to tackle ongoing waste issues regarding paper coffee cups and the wider use of plastics, Starbuck's vice president of corporate affairs Simon Redfern has claimed.
The three-year development represents a £90m investment from AccorHotels, and the building was delivered on time and to budget

In practice: AccorHotels' new project targeting BREEAM excellent certification

Ahead of edie's flagship Sustainability Leaders Awards in January, edie is taking a closer look at some of the projects initiatives that have been deemed worthy of a finalist position by our expert judges. Up next: AccorHotels' new London hotel.

Public sector bodies: Is now the time to monitor, analyse and manage your energy consumption?

Businesses and Public sector bodies spend the equivalent of £22bn on energy every year. Yet it is often overlooked by these organisations, who lack the knowledge of how much they are consuming or even potentially wasting.
The new energy and heating infrastructure will reduce carbon emissions at the Trust by around 10,000 tonnes annually

In practice: Oxford University Hospitals' money-saving CHP retrofit

Oxford University Hospitals benefited from a finance procurement system that partnered the Trust with companies that could replace aging heat and power infrastructure with a combined heat and power system that would generate massive economic savings.

Renewable energy in the supply chain

This new report focuses on the opportunity for companies to amplify their carbon reduction efforts by driving renewables through their supply chains. Given how easy it is to choose renewable electricity in the UK, businesses could be doing more to engage with their suppliers.

Centrica Business Solutions: Resilience

UK businesses without an energy resilience strategy are risking 17% of their revenue, equating to £2.8m each year in damages and lost opportunities. This is a key finding from Centrica Business Solutions’ research into the current state of energy resilience.

100 Victoria Street achieved BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Silver certification

In practice: Landsec's BREEAM Outstanding headquarters designed to WELL standards

As more companies look to create the right work environments for staff wellbeing, Landsec created the UK's largest fully WELL Certified space for staff health, which also achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating.

Sustainability Leaders Awards 2018: Meet the finalists

After a record-breaking number of entries, the judging panel has met, the decisions have been made and edie is proud to reveal the finalists for the 2018 Sustainability Leaders Awards.

edie Explains: Building energy management systems (BEMS)

In the latest in the edie Explains series, we look at building energy management systems (BEMS), exploring what they are, what they do and what the business benefit is.

edie Explains: The green office

The purpose of a green office programme is to enable a business to improve the efficiency of its everyday operations by taking practical steps to reduce office resource consumption and implement more sustainable practices that benefit both the organisation and its employees.

Towards a sustainable economy

CISL and its recently formed Rewiring the Economy Inquiry Group published its latest report ‘Towards a sustainable economy’, to identify new business approaches that can drive progress towards the SDGs.

As a self-supply licensee, Whitbread will pay wholesale prices

Whitbread first hospitality firm to be granted water self-supply licence

Regulator Ofwat has granted hospitality giant Whitbread a self-supply licence to deliver its own water and wastewater services for all of its brands in England.

The employers’ guide to smart meters and energy efficiency awareness at work and at home

This document provides guidance and materials for running an energy efficiency awareness campaign at work, including practical advice to employees on how they can benefit from getting a smart meter and saving energy at home.

edie explains: Combined heat & power (CHP)

This edie explains business guide, produced in association with E.ON, provides an in- depth summary of combined heat & power (CHP) systems, which convert a single fuel into both electricity and heat in one process.

edie explains: Onsite generation

This edie explains business guide, produced in association with E.ON, provides an in- depth summary of onsite generation, which allows businesses to make and use their own energy at a particular location, rather than buying that energy through the grid.

Wise Minds: The energy transition and large utilities

The UK energy system is in flux. It is changing more quickly – and more fundamentally – than at any point since the Industrial Revolution.
Sustainability and energy experts from a range of firms came together to discuss the potential solutions to some of the biggest challenges in the EV transition

Electrifying your fleet roundtable: Turning challenges into opportunities

Sustainability and energy management experts from some of the world's biggest businesses recently gathered in Oxford for an exclusive roundtable hosted by edie and UK Power Networks Services, to explore how challenges can be turned into opportunities when it comes to fleet electrification.
We've rounded up the best of the quotes from edie Live 2018

edie Live 2018: eight key things we learned

After a fascinating two days of inspiration, insight and expertise, edie looks back at some of the most crucial messages taken away from edie Live 2018.
Pivot Power aims to have operational batteries at 10 of the 45 sites, which are all near towns and major roads, within the next 18 months

UK to host world's first battery and rapid EV charging network

The world's first 2GW network of grid-scale batteries and rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is set to be installed in the UK at a cost of £1.6bn, as the result of a partnership announced today by the National Grid and Pivot Power.
The Aqualagon is heated to 30C all year round through geothermal energy

Sustainability 'imagineered': The Disney-led resort powered by geothermal energy

edie's senior reporter Matt Mace travels to the outskirts of Paris to uncover how Villages Nature Paris tapped into geothermal energy to deliver on a holistic 10-step sustainability framework.
It’s clearly an area with room for exponential growth, but with sustainability professionals unaware of how it works, are they missing out on a game-changing solution?

What can blockchain do for corporate sustainability?

The fruits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution continue to accelerate how businesses act within society; but nestled in alongside automation and the Internet of Things, can little-known blockchain truly revolutionise sustainability?

Mission Possible: Taking bold action to achieve a sustainable future

The mission, should we choose to accept it: achieving a low-carbon, resource-efficient industrial revolution. As we gear up for edie Live 2018 this webinar will hear from the leading businesses and experts that are scaling-up effort and innovation across all areas of sustainable development to make this Mission Possible.

Sector Insight: The state of sustainability in hospitality & leisure

This exclusive insight report explores the key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainability in the UK's hospitality & leisure industry.

Employee engagement: What does it take to change behaviours?

Aligning corporate sustainability targets with individuals' motivations and behaviours can drive significant savings, but it is incredibly difficult to achieve. In this webinar, we explore how energy and sustainability managers can effectively engage with employees to bring about positive change.

Sector insight: The state of sustainability in construction

This exclusive insight report explores the key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainability in the UK's construction sector.

Energy innovation: Delivering the smart grid of the future, today

The mission is clear: we must accelerate the shift to zero-carbon energy systems in order to slash emissions and mitigate global warming. But this mission IS possible: renewable energy costs are tumbling and new approaches to energy management such as battery storage and demand response are offering new ways for organisations to operate more sustainably.

The sustainability communications handbook

This handbook equips you with the knowledge and insight required to help your audience understand the true value of sustainability, from the boardroom, to your staff, consumers and investors.
The scheme could be rolled out across the capital over the summer should it prove a success

London to pilot water bottle refill scheme to slash plastic waste

Major firms including Costa Coffee, Leon and Whole Foods will offer tap water refills across London stores as part of a pilot scheme to slash single-use plastic bottles in the capital.
AB InBev’s largest UK brewery in Magor has acted as a test-bed for innovative solutions and technologies

In practice: AB InBev's onsite energy drive at its largest UK brewery

AB InBev's recently-announced carbon reduction targets will see the global brewer lean on past best-practice examples to decarbonise facilities. One of the shining examples thus far has been the use of onsite technologies at the Magor brewery in Wales.
Experts estimate that excessive amounts of nitrogen oxides or NOx in the air kill between 6,000 and 13,000 people in Germany every year

German court rules cities can ban diesel cars to tackle pollution

Millions of heavily polluting vehicles could eventually disappear from roads across Germany after its top administrative court ruled that cities have the right to ban diesel motors in an effort to improve deadly air quality levels.

edie Explains: ESOS Phase 2

This edie Explains guide, produced in association with Schneider Electric, will help organisations in their preparations to comply with the second phase of the UK Government's Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).