Products lifecycle considering water pollution impact and waterfootprint in water scarce regions

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Luxury products with expensive prices but no consideration of water pollution or over-use of groundwater impact like gold, cocoa or coffee: the ethical water stock-exchange will consider the sanitation or sewage lacks in order to get those products on a sustainable basis but without extra premium. Don't you think that we should not pay a premium for products that just respects laws and dignity? The products not respecting sustainable ways of production should pay a penalty via the purchase of ethical water titles as environement "cleaning" share via sanitation in the production place.

2 Answers

  1. Ways to enforce/ensure that the ethical water credits are what they are include: 1. water footprinting of all products, including luxury products. Whether a leather purse is made in the US, Italy, China or Zimbabwe, it will need the same amount of water through the production chain. 2. To participate in the EWT exchange when physical delivery occurs, the buyer can simply test the delivered water. When it involves products, manufacturers may need to open themselves to inspection by EWT buyers or a third party. This will be especially important when the seller of EWTs claims process changes and technologies that affect the cost of the EWTs. 3. Lessons learned about blood diamonds and the Kimberly process, carbon trading, as well as the common tricks used in other commodity trades, will come into play. The Ethical Water Exchange needs to utilize experienced people in the private and public sectors to anticipate the cheating and short cuts that will inevitably occur. 4. This will always be an imperfect structure and a steep learning curve initially, regardless of best efforts. It is important to recognize this and prepare to respond to various issues that will come up. Including national sovereignty and manipulation by larger economic powers (India and China were quick to game the carbon market and bring in billions of USD to each country. And no one could do anything about it)

  2. How do you enforce/ motivate the purchase of ethical water titles? and who certifies that they are indeed 'Ethical', what is the definition?