Development of a corporate water strategy for twelve industrial facilities of the Tata Group based on water footprint assessment
Published on by Markus Pahlow, University of Canterbury - Senior Lecturer
Water Footprint Assessment of Tata Chemicals, Tata Motors, Tata Power and Tata Steel: Results and Learning
The Tata Group partnered with IFC and technical partner Water Footprint Network (WFN) to develop a corporate water strategy for twelve industrial facilities based on Water Footprint Network's globally acknowledged Water Footprint Assessment methodology. The aim of the partnership was to develop an integrated water sustainability framework and create a common language on corporate water stewardship among internal stakeholders ranging from senior management to facility staff. Water Footprint Network's Water Footprint Assessment methodology was selected because it provides detailed analysis of the amount of water consumed and polluted, and highlights improvement action areas that cannot be identified through the use of traditional water use statistics and discharge permits.
The Tata-IFC Corporate Water Partnership applied the water footprint assessment methodology to enable the Tata Group to:
- Calculate the water footprint within direct operations and supply chain of twelve industrial facilities across Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Tata Motors, and Tata Power.
- Understand the efficiency of facility water footprints and their impact on sustainability of local water sources.
- Formulate comprehensive response strategies to reduce water footprint, address water scarcity and pollution in the local watershed and assume a leadership role in corporate water stewardship.
The partnership served the dual purpose of addressing water challenges of a leading corporate group, while simultaneously contributing to the global repository of knowledge on corporate water footprints and reduction response strategies. The partnership developed a knowledge base in three areas - Water Footprint Assessment results, corporate water sustainability framework and global water footprint knowledge.
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