Summary of Nestlé’s Water Management Report

The availability of water for the environment and human use is challenged by population growth, disruption of natural water cycles and pollution through human activity, and increasing demand for water-intensive foods and life-styles. Situations of water stress and scarcity is a problem in an increasing number of water basins around the world where today’s policy frameworks, water governance and individual behaviours are inadequate to protect the resource and ensure its basic provision for human use.

Experts and stakeholders have helped Nestlé understand the problem and have contributed to the water management report to explain the origins of the current situation and how to improve water management. Their input and the engagement of Nestlé’s employees have helped Nestlé further develop its understanding of potential roles and commitments on water. Specifically Nestlé will:

• leverage areas of direct control over its own manufacturing operations. Nestlé will continue to improve efficient water management, building on good progress to date, and will strive for the highest standards possible in water extraction, use and disposal.
• encourage farmers to promote good water management in agriculture. Beyond its core business activities, Nestlé will expand its efforts in sharing good water management practices in agriculture, particularly in its direct supply chain where it can have a significant impact. In some cases, these investments will also help provide clean water to rural communities.
• offer its experience to the broader water management debate with a wide range of stakeholders to improve the state of water management throughout the world. Focus will be on projects to improve local water management, working with others to establish better standards of water resource management, continuing on-going efforts in education about water conservation, and participating in the debate on the impacts of agricultural policies, amongst others, on water resources.

Although much progress has already been made, we always seek to improve further, both in terms of our own operations as well as by contributing to positive developments in broader water management and approaches.