Ecolab and CDP Partner on New Benchmarks to Help Companies Improve Operational Water Performance
The ‘Water Use Efficiency Index’ by
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Water use efficiency is one of the most immediate and controllable levers for companies in water-stressed regions. Improving efficiency reduces costs, strengthens resilience and eases pressure on shared water resources. Global freshwater demand is projected to outstrip supply by 56% by 2030, and as much as 60% of global GDP depends on reliable access to water. These pressures are particularly acute for water‑intensive sectors such as food, beverage and agriculture, which account for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. At the same time, the rapid expansion of AI is expected to intensify pressure: by 2030, AI‑driven growth could require as much water as the annual drinking water needs of
The Water Use Efficiency Index will provide a clear, data‑driven view of what best‑in‑class operational water use looks like for specific industries. With this insight, companies can benchmark performance against peers, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and build a roadmap to scale circular water management approaches across their enterprise.
Advancing Water Circularity is essential for industries facing rising water demand from population growth and expanding manufacturing and digital infrastructure. By improving efficiency and scaling reuse, companies reduce their freshwater footprint while building circular systems that strengthen operations and watershed health. Better water performance also lowers total cost of operations—since up to 75% of manufacturing energy is tied to moving, heating and treating water—and improves product quality through more consistent, controlled processes.
“Water is the foundation of life and business. Every breakthrough depends on water, and the private sector has an incredible opportunity to reimagine how we manage this vital resource,” said
“Water is a critical economic input. It is integral to growth and success across industries including AI, semiconductors, and manufacturing. As water stress intensifies, companies that understand, manage and improve their water use will be better positioned to protect margins, secure supply chains and attract capital,” said
The Index draws on CDP’s database of more than 10,000 annual corporate water disclosures, Ecolab’s insights from millions of customer locations across 40 industries and 170 countries, and relevant data from leading trade organizations. Using this combined dataset, the Index defines best‑in‑class benchmarks and highlights industry‑leading performance in enterprise‑level water use efficiency among reporting peers.
For the Beverage and Brew segment of the Food, Beverage and Agriculture industry, these benchmarks include:
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Beverage, Carbonated Soft Drinks:
- Best-in-Class Location: 1.2–1.4 Liters of water / Liter of product
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Best-in-Class Enterprise: 1.5–1.8
L/L
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Brew:
- Best-in-Class Location: 1.4–2.0 Hectoliters of water / Hectoliters of product
- Best-in-Class Enterprise: 2.0–3.0 hL/hL
“By combining CDP’s leading disclosure data with Ecolab’s industry water use expertise, we are giving companies a clear view of where they stand operationally compared to industry norms and best‑in‑class performance,” said
To learn more about the Water Use Efficiency Index by
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About CDP
CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system. As the founder of environmental reporting, we believe in transparency and the power of data to drive change. Partnering with leaders in enterprise, capital, policy and science, we surface the information needed to enable Earth-positive decisions. We helped more than 22,100 companies and over 1,000 cities, states and regions disclose their environmental impacts in 2025. Financial institutions with more than a quarter of the world’s institutional assets use CDP data to help inform investment and lending decisions. Aligned with the ISSB’s climate standard, IFRS S2, as its foundational baseline, CDP integrates best practice reporting standards and frameworks in one place. Our team is truly global, united by our shared desire to build a world where people, planet and profit are truly balanced. Visit CDP.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.
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