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Side Note 2: Water footprint
A product’s water footprint is the volume of freshwater used to produce product goods or commodities, taking into
account the volumes of water consumed and polluted in different steps of the supply chain. A distinction is made
between 18 :
Blue water footprint – volume of surface and groundwater consumed as a result of the production of a good or
service
Green water footprint – volume of rainwater consumed during the production process
Grey water footprint – an indicator of freshwater pollution that can be associated with the production of a product
over its entire supply chain
Direct water use refers to the volume of freshwater consumed by a consumer for concrete activities (e.g. cooking or
washing) or by a business within a local production process. Indirect water use refers to the volume of freshwater that
is embedded in goods that were produced and imported from different regions, such as food, paper, cotton clothes, or
in the case of businesses, products from earlier stages of the supply chain.
A company’s water footprint is the cumulative water needed to function; however, few, companies have estimated
how much water they will need to grow. In 2009, WWF Germany calculated the water footprint of the German
economy and found that the goods and commodities consumed daily have the largest water footprint. A German
citizen consumes around 5,200 litres of water each day, of which only 120 litres are consumed directly (e.g. in the
household) 19 .
Water footprints of products we use daily:
1 t-shirt = 2,500 litres
1 cup of coffee = 130 litres
1 apple = 125 litres
1 litre ethanol (from sugar cane) = 2,107 litres
1 microchip = 30 litres
The water footprint is important in raising awareness, informing purchase decisions, and improving water use
efficiency.
For further information and data source: http://www.waterfootprint.org
2.4 The Water Future of German Companies
Germany itself has a
very fortunate water
situation. However, the
German economy relies
on goods and services
imported from other
countries.
In 2008, Germany was the world’s leading export country; in 2012, it was
the third largest exporter with a global export value of €1,107,938 million
(US$1,407,082 million) – after China and the USA 20 . In 2012, Germany
was also the world’s third biggest importing country with
€919,083.7 million (US$1,167,236.3 million) of merchandise value 21 .
Germany itself has a very fortunate water situation. In comparison with other
countries, sufficient water availability, good water quality, a strong regulatory
framework and governmental enforcement, and past and future investments in
water structures reduces the water risks of production in Germany.
However, the German economy relies on goods and services imported from
other countries – whether textiles and apparel, agricultural products, energy,
or raw materials. The majority of these goods originate in locations with water
scarcity, deteriorating water quality, weak governance and regulatory challenges,
poor infrastructure, vulnerable communities, and fragile ecosystems.
A company that has a factory in or that sources materials from a poorly managed
river basin may find itself facing a range of water-related risks like absolute
water scarcity, increased water cost or regulation, or reputational damage
caused by the real or perceived water-related impacts of its operations on communities
and habitats 22 .
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