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The creative free rein that comes with compiling our annual Fabulous 50+1 list is a real treat for an editor. When I think about the people, places, and things impacting global supply chains, it’s the subtle, seemingly inconsequential, and obscure in the mix that excites me, and this year didn’t disappoint.
Consider the Water Disclosure Questionnaire, which was sent out to 300 of the world’s largest companies by the UK-based Carbon Disclosure Project in April. The group is credited with helping to raise companies’ awareness about their carbon footprints years ago, but now the pressing threat is water.
Andy Wales, head of sustainable development for SABMiller, one of the world’s largest brewers, wrote in the The Guardian recently about his company’s efforts to reduce their water input during the brewing process by 25 percent by 2015. It’s interesting to note that it takes about 45 pints of water to make one pint of beer, yet only 5 of those pints are used in the brewery. The rest of the water-described as “virtual” water because it’s used in the production-is used to grow the raw materials such as hops and barley.
Wales notes that a report released in April estimated that two-thirds of all the UK’s water needs are “virtual,” which in addition to agricultural production, covers the production of imported clothes and industrial goods. “This consumption may be exacerbating water scarcity in developing countries,” he explains.
SABMiller has begun working on ways to reduce their water use with direct measures, “like mapping the watersheds from which we draw water and carrying out water footprinting in countries from South Africa and Tanzania to Peru and Ukraine. This means understanding the full water input at every stage of producing a product to help to identify and implement the right methods of saving water,” says Wales.
Meanwhile, global insurer Lloyd’s most recent 360 Risk Insight report warned that, “water scarcity could present a risk to [companies’] business models.” Richard Ward, Lloyd’s CEO, encourages risk managers to ask themselves: How confident are you in your ability to maintain a steady supply of water? Could the record of your suppliers on water management damage your brand or reputation? What new regulations could be imposed on how your company manages water?
According to Will Sarni, founder and CEO of Domani Consulting: “Although the process and protocols for determining a company’s water footprint are not as well developed as carbon accounting, procedures are quickly being refined and multinational companies are making business decisions based upon preliminary evaluations. Energy, water and carbon footprinting across the entire supply chain are essential in evaluating business risk. The time to start measuring the amount of water in your supply chain is now, before water becomes a business constraint to operation and growth.”
Like the Water Disclosure Questionnaire, there are quite a few gems in this year’s list. We hope you find them as fabulous as we do.
Enjoy the read.
Lara L. Sowinski, Editor
laras@worldtradewt100.com
Consider the Water Disclosure Questionnaire, which was sent out to 300 of the world’s largest companies by the UK-based Carbon Disclosure Project in April. The group is credited with helping to raise companies’ awareness about their carbon footprints years ago, but now the pressing threat is water.
Andy Wales, head of sustainable development for SABMiller, one of the world’s largest brewers, wrote in the The Guardian recently about his company’s efforts to reduce their water input during the brewing process by 25 percent by 2015. It’s interesting to note that it takes about 45 pints of water to make one pint of beer, yet only 5 of those pints are used in the brewery. The rest of the water-described as “virtual” water because it’s used in the production-is used to grow the raw materials such as hops and barley.
Wales notes that a report released in April estimated that two-thirds of all the UK’s water needs are “virtual,” which in addition to agricultural production, covers the production of imported clothes and industrial goods. “This consumption may be exacerbating water scarcity in developing countries,” he explains.
SABMiller has begun working on ways to reduce their water use with direct measures, “like mapping the watersheds from which we draw water and carrying out water footprinting in countries from South Africa and Tanzania to Peru and Ukraine. This means understanding the full water input at every stage of producing a product to help to identify and implement the right methods of saving water,” says Wales.
Meanwhile, global insurer Lloyd’s most recent 360 Risk Insight report warned that, “water scarcity could present a risk to [companies’] business models.” Richard Ward, Lloyd’s CEO, encourages risk managers to ask themselves: How confident are you in your ability to maintain a steady supply of water? Could the record of your suppliers on water management damage your brand or reputation? What new regulations could be imposed on how your company manages water?
According to Will Sarni, founder and CEO of Domani Consulting: “Although the process and protocols for determining a company’s water footprint are not as well developed as carbon accounting, procedures are quickly being refined and multinational companies are making business decisions based upon preliminary evaluations. Energy, water and carbon footprinting across the entire supply chain are essential in evaluating business risk. The time to start measuring the amount of water in your supply chain is now, before water becomes a business constraint to operation and growth.”
Like the Water Disclosure Questionnaire, there are quite a few gems in this year’s list. We hope you find them as fabulous as we do.
Enjoy the read.
Lara L. Sowinski, Editor
laras@worldtradewt100.com
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