World Water Day: Promoting Water Footprint Labeling

This article by Jaymi Heinbuch examines the possibility of water footprint labeling as a means to inform consumers about the impacts of products on global water supplies. Heinbuch suggests that a water footprint label may soon be as prominent on product packaging as an Energy Star label, and with an equal amount of clout among consumers, but warns of the difficulties in getting internationally recognised measurement standards.

Water Footprint Labels to Become as Important as Energy Star

Source: Jaymi Heimbuch, Alternet, March 3rd 2010.

World Water Day is approaching (March 22, 2010 if you'd like to mark your calendar) and there's no better time than now to start focusing more on the importance of water footprints. We're already working hard on figuring out how to account for carbon in products and services, but equally as important is their water footprint. Accountants are already studying up, and even huge companies like IBM are putting the importance of water management on par with electricity management.

This could mean that a water footprint label is soon to be as prominent on product packaging as an Energy Star label, and with an equal amount of clout among consumers. The idea of putting a water footprint label on food is nothing new - we've been talking about that for quite some time, and rightfully so since the water footprint can be enormous. However, just like with carbon footprints and supply chain emissions, water footprint accounting is in need of standardization.

Stuart Orr, WWFs freshwater-footprint manager stated that because the ecological analysis is complex, everyone is a bit confused about just what to include, how to measure it, and what the numbers mean. A new manual by WFN will come out later this month and will act as a beginning guideline for how to calculate water footprints on all levels including individuals, businesses, and governments. Because of the lack of accepted standards, we're still a ways off from having a water footprint label on products; however we're sure to see them in the near future because unlike electricity where we can figure out renewable resources to generate more, as Orr states, "We cant screw this up. There is no Plan B with water. Lets be clear about that."

Read the full article here.