Marking the State of Water Stewardship
If no one leads on water, the world will run dry. Under current conditions, the World Resources Institute projects that our planet faces a 56% water deficit by 20301. The lasting effects of water stress impact the communities where we work and thrive, compelling businesses, governments and individuals alike to take urgent action. As a global leader in water, Ecolab releases the Ecolab Watermark Study every year to learn where and how to protect this finite resource. By understanding the views and needs of the general population, Ecolab builds the business case for positive change towards a water-secure future.
Key Insights From 2024
Access to clean and safe water remains a significant climate concern for consumers around the world. Governments and businesses continue to be seen as primarily responsible for water conservation, but consumers in some regions do not believe these leaders care enough about water or climate changes. The agricultural, food and beverage, and manufacturing industries are perceived as the most responsible for water use and conservation. Meanwhile, consumers continue to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability through their purchasing habits.
Percentage of consumers that list clean and safe water as a significant environmental concern.2
Latin America
China*
United States
IMEA
Europe
Asia Pacific
Percentage of consumers that believe governments and businesses have made significant progress towards their climate and sustainability goals.3
China*
IMEA
Latin America
Asia Pacific
United States
Europe
Percentage of consumers that see the agriculture, food and beverage and manufacturing industries as most responsible for water conservation.4
Europe
United States
IMEA
Latin America
Asia Pacific
China*
Percentage of consumers who have stopped using/purchasing products because of how much water it takes to manufacture them.5
China*
IMEA
Latin America
Asia Pacific
Europe
United States
Advancing Water Stewardship
For over 100 years, Ecolab has worked to protect the resources vital to life by prioritizing water stewardship in our own operations and those of our customers. Across more than 40 industries worldwide, Ecolab helps businesses respond to climate and water challenges by minimizing their water use in critical processes. We help our customers drive lasting impact and achieve an exponential return on investment (eROI) by aligning climate, water, and business growth goals.
Our Expertise
Interested in water stewardship? Explore the following articles for news and trends related to water:
Our Solutions
With more than one trillion gallons of water managed annually, Ecolab combines Connected Chemistry™
with digital insights and industry expertise to drive sustainability and growth in tandem.
Learn more about how Ecolab can help you take a smart water management approach in your operations.
Identify Opportunities with the Smart Water Navigator
Take an Enterprise Approach with Ecolab Water for Climate™
Manage Water Performance with 3D TRASAR™ Technology
Visualize Insights with ECOLAB3D™ Digital Services
Our Projects
When you address water resiliency, business can thrive. The following case studies highlight how Ecolab helps deliver a positive impact on our customers’ business, water and climate goals:
Our Partnerships
Our partnerships with leading nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) strengthen our understanding and ability to impact global challenges facing our business, customers and communities. They include:
- WRI Achieving Abundance working paper 2020: files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/achieving-abundance↵
- Based on top-two box scoring of “very / somewhat concerned”↵
- Based on top-two box scoring of “Strongly agree/Somewhat agree”↵
- Based on top three options selected↵
- Based on top-two box scoring of “Very concerned /Somewhat concerned”↵
*China research does not include Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan.