Exploring Water Positivity Ahead of The Leadership Summit
Across the globe, more than two billion people lack access to safe water and 3.4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation.
To address this issue and bring water security to global communities, companies are working on initiatives and partnerships across industries.
At Sustainability LIVE @ London Climate Action Week – The Leadership Summit, leaders will gather to discuss these unique challenges and opportunities at The Water Positivity Forum.
What is water positivity?
Water positivity refers to how companies can contribute to the sustainable management and restoration of water sources.
This includes using practices and technologies to reduce water consumption, improve water quality and enhance water availability.
The goal of this is to leave a positive impact on water ecosystems and ensure that more water is conserved or restored than used.
The concept of water positivity was formed in the construction industry, in an effort to create zero-impact buildings by reducing land and material use, as well as implementing energy and water efficiency practices.
Global initiatives for water positivity
A major example of water positivity in action is Get Blue, which is Water.org’s initiative to help fund access to safe water and sanitation.
This initiative was launched alongside Gap, Amazon, Starbucks and Ecolab, using their combined global influence to make a positive impact.
The companies will provide products, content and experiences to help fund water access.
The launch of the project is planned for later in 2026, with solutions being developed across the fashion, food and beverage and technology sectors.
Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, said on LinkedIn: “Get Blue is designed to enable consumer and B2B companies to treat water as a core operating and market issue – something that is foundational to Ecolab.
“We know that when we help customers use water smarter, we unlock growth, value and impact.
“By joining forces with global leaders to expand access to safe water, we can tackle global water scarcity and strengthen the communities in which we all operate.”
A spotlight on Amazon’s water positivity
In addition to the Get Blue partnership, Amazon has created a water spotlight which showcases its water stewardship ambitions and achievements.
It discusses the company’s water reuse and replenishment projects, where it invests to increase water access, availability and quality through restoring watersheds and bringing clean water and sanitation to the most water-stressed communities.
It has more than 45 water replenishment projects around the world, resulting in an expected 18 billion litres of water being returned to communities each year.
Amazon’s projects span 14 countries and aim to address water quantity, quality, access to drinking water, leakages and reduced stream flow.
Meighan McLafferty, Director, Industry Relations – Sustainability and The Climate Pledge at Amazon, said on LinkedIn: “Have you ever wondered how much water AI data centres really use, or how farmers are using innovative technology to conserve water? Did you know that globally, about 30% of water is lost to leakage?
“Amazon’s newly launched spotlight on water addresses these questions and more. Being a responsible water steward requires moving beyond simple conservation; it requires an all-hands-on-deck mentality and a commitment to both people and the planet.
“By leveraging an innovation-focused approach, we are working to ensure that our operational choices support the long-term health of the planet and the communities we call home.”
About the event
Sustainability LIVE is joining the line-up at London Climate Action Week with an exclusive one-day event, bringing together C-Suite executives and sustainability leaders.
The Water Positivity Forum is a panel set to examine strategies for safeguarding water resources and building sustainable water management systems.
Leaders will share insights on reducing water risk, improving operational efficiency and driving innovation in water stewardship.
The panel will feature Darshana Myronidis, Global Director of Sustainability at Virgin.
Executives
Emilio Tenuta
Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab
Meighan McLafferty
Director, Industry Relations | Sustainability and The Climate Pledge
