Operational Water Performance Benchmarks, Powered by Ecolab 

Ecolab and CDP Partner on New Benchmarks to Help Companies Improve Operational Water Performance

The ‘Water Use Efficiency Index’ by Ecolab and CDP provides sector‑specific standards to guide smarter water management and accelerate progress toward best‑in‑class resilience and competitive advantage.

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Ecolab and CDP are launching the Water Use Efficiency Index, a new benchmark designed to help companies measure, compare and improve operational water performance. The Index will offer sector‑specific ranges for Best‑in‑Class water use efficiency and optimized targets, giving business leaders a clear view of where they stand with water use in their operations and how to improve. The initiative begins with a pilot for the Beverage and Brew segment of the Food, Beverage and Agriculture industry—one of the most water‑intensive sectors globally.


Water use efficiency is one of the most immediate and controllable levers for companies in water-stressed regions. Improving efficiency reduces costs, strengthens resilience, and eases pressure on shared water resources. Global freshwater demand is projected to outstrip supply by 56% by 2030, and as much as 60% of global GDP depends on reliable access to water. These pressures are particularly acute for water‑intensive sectors such as food, beverage and agriculture, which account for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals.

Advancing Water Circularity is essential for industries facing rising water demand from population growth and expanding manufacturing and digital infrastructure. By improving efficiency and scaling reuse, companies reduce their freshwater footprint while building circular systems that strengthen operations and watershed health. Better water performance also lowers total cost of operations—since up to 75% of manufacturing energy is tied to moving, heating, and treating water—and improves product quality through more consistent, controlled processes.


The Water Use Efficiency Index will provide a clear, data‑driven view of what best‑in‑class operational water use looks like for specific industries. With this insight, companies can benchmark performance against peers, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and build a roadmap to scale circular water management approaches across their enterprise.


The Index draws on CDP’s database of more than 10,000 annual corporate water disclosures, Ecolab’s insights from millions of customer locations across 40 industries and 170 countries, and relevant data from leading trade organizations. Using this combined dataset, the Index defines best‑in‑class benchmarks and highlights industry‑leading performance in enterprise‑level water use efficiency among reporting peers.

Water Use Efficiency Index Powered by Ecolab Best-in-Class

For the Beverage and Brew segment of the Food, Beverage and Agriculture industry, the Water Use Efficiency Index benchmarks include:

Carbonated Soft Drinks

Water Use Efficiency Index (WUEI) unit = Liters of water / Liter of beverage produced annualized average.

Brewing

Water Use Efficiency Index (WUEI) unit = Hectoliters of water / Hectoliter of beer produced annualized average.

Read the Insights Brief

* Value presented solely for illustrative purpose.

1 The Best-in-Class Enterprise range represents industry-leading performance in enterprise-level water use efficiency among reporting peers.

2 The Best-in-Class Location range represents the minimum achievable volume of water withdrawn per unit of production output for a specific sector activity based on operational water performance achieved at leading production locations.

Water Use Efficiency Indices Across Industries

CDP and Ecolab aim to expand the Water Use Efficiency Index following a successful Beverage and Brew pilot. Expansions aim to cover water-intensive industries, such as:

  • Apparel
  • Biotech, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
  • Food, Beverage & Agriculture
  • Hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Power Generation

Beverage Processing Solutions

Ecolab offers specialized beverage processing solutions. From water sanitation to pest elimination, we can help improve every part of your beverage plant's operations while cutting costs.

Learn About Our Beverage Processing Solutions

Brewery and Winery Processing Solutions

Ecolab offers specialized brewery and winery processing solutions. From water sanitation to pest elimination, we can help improve every part of your beverage plant's operations while cutting costs.

Learn About Our Brewery and Winery Processing Solutions

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