First ISO manual on the water footprint

The new ISO manual revolves around the topic of "water footprint". More specifically, around a larger issue. Sebastien Humbert, a co-author, points out that water footprinting is a relatively new type of assessment compared to other methods such as CO2 footprinting. - As many diverse methods as there are, there are many different results.

Nonetheless, clean water for life is one of our most precious resources. Water is essential to life and yet a good 40 percent of the world's population lacks this resource. At the same time, man is his own enemy, because more than 80 percent of the wastewater produced by society flows back into the ecosystem neither treated nor usable.

Limit water use

The complexity of water as an ephemeral resource is more complex than anticipated. Regulating water use alongside multiple sustainable development goals is a challenge. As studies by the United Nations have repeatedly shown, governments and companies are also on different stages when it comes to water allocation.

The ISO handbook addresses societal premises on how to deal with global water scarcity and how to limit water use. In any case, before taking political or corporate positions, one should be able to measure "water".

ISO 14046

ISO 14046 aims at international unity, seeking a common language - if you will - for resource managers. The ISO manual, which takes into account thousands of contributors from around 60 countries and 20 non-governmental organizations, is a reference work for understanding environmental impacts at various levels.

The new handbook "ISO 14046. Environmental Management - water footprint" also provides Swiss SMEs with practical guidance on how to manage their water consumption.

You can find out more about standards in the ISO 14000 environmental field at this Link