Why it matters
Water scarcity is a growing global concern in many parts of the world.
The issues
As fresh water supplies come under pressure, the need for better water management becomes ever more urgent.
This pressure is driven by changing weather patterns, increases in global population and rising per capita water consumption. The average amount of water people use varies across the world, but increases with industrialisation. The United Nations states a minimum of 50 litres of water per person, per day, for drinking and other basic needs. The average North American uses 350 litres daily, while in some of the poorest countries people live on as little as 10 litres.
Some 70% of total water consumption is used for agriculture. As populations across the world grow, so too will the demands from farming. Furthermore, access to fresh water is increasingly problematic as demand grows and water sources become polluted.
Even where adequate supplies of clean water exist, they may simply be unaffordable to people on low incomes. Climate change will exacerbate this problem, making water scarcer for farmers, industry and consumers. Where this pressure on water supplies brings communities and countries into opposition, social and political conflicts may arise.
Unilever's business is reliant on the availability of water for three main purposes:
in sourcing, large amounts of water are needed in the cultivation of agricultural raw materials
our manufacturing operations require water for processes such as cleaning and cooling, or as an ingredient
in the hands of consumers, water is essential when using many of our home and personal care products, such as soaps, laundry detergents, shampoos and toothpaste, as well as some food products.
The challenge is to develop ways to maintain business growth – providing more products for consumers – while reducing the impact of water usage.
