How Ecolab’s Water Index Can Help Companies Build Resilience

Global freshwater demand is predicted to overtake supply by 56% by 2030, according to Ecolab.

To help address this issue, Ecolab has partnered with CDP to launch the Water Use Efficiency Index, which aims to help companies improve their operational water performance.

The project will start with a pilot in the Beverage and Brew segment of the Food, Beverage and Agriculture sector, which is one of the world’s most water-intensive industries.

Why is water at a critical point?

Up to 60% of global GDP depends on reliable access to water, meaning that water use efficiency is one of the most critical variables for water-stressed regions.

These pressures are most noticeable in the food, beverage and agriculture sectors, which account for around 70% of global freshwater consumption.

The rapid expansion of AI is also predicted to contribute to water scarcity – by 2030, it is projected that AI could require as much water as the annual drinking water supply of the US.

According to Ecolab, companies have a significant opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle water to protect the environment and natural resources.

Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP, says: “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.”

About the Water Use Efficiency Index

The Water Use Efficiency Index aims to target water scarcity, especially in water-stressed regions.

It will provide a data-driven view of what ideal operational water use looks like for individual industries.

Companies can use the Index to compare their performance to their peers’, using the data to improve their water efficiency.

The Index can also help companies develop water strategies, helping to embed circular water management across their entire business.

“Water is the foundation of life and business,” says Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab. “Every breakthrough depends on water and the private sector has an incredible opportunity to reimagine how we manage this vital resource.

“Our partnership with CDP aims to be the catalyst for industrial water use transformation.

“By championing best-in-class operational water performance, companies can embark toward a future of meaningful growth and positive impact.”

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend:

• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

How can the Index help water circularity?

The Index uses CDP’s existing database of corporate water disclosures, with more than 10,000 companies reporting their water use.

It also incorporates Ecolab’s insights from customer locations across 40 industries and 170 countries globally, as well as data from trade organisations.

By combining this data, the Index creates benchmarks for the “best-in-class” for each industry, allowing leading companies to be highlighted among peers.

Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, says: “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.

“Together with CDP, we are helping companies turn disclosure into action to drive performance, improve efficiency and lower costs.”

Emilio Tenuta has been recognised in Sustainability Magazine's Top 250 Sustainability Leaders 2026. Read the full list here.

The Index also highlights the importance of water circularity, which is essential for industries with increasing manufacturing and digital infrastructure which demands more water.

Up to 75% of manufacturing energy is linked to moving, heating and treating water, meaning that better water performance can lower operational costs and improve product quality.

According to Ecolab, companies can reduce their freshwater footprint while building circular systems that strengthen operations and watershed health by improving their efficiency and scaling water reuse.