Corporate Water Accounting: An Analysis of Methods and Tools for ...

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50 their supplies on global commodity markets that obscure the source and production history of those goods. Pilot testing can help develop more robust and systematic ways to address suppliers’ water issues, by improving efficient data collection systems in complex supply chains and promoting innovative ways to communicate and incentivize this responsible practice to suppliers. In particular, pilot testers can help suppliers implement management systems that help collect this data, educate suppliers on the rationale and process for improved water stewardship, and/or establish supplier guidelines that require this information. 3. Improved data collection Our report found that one of the key limiting factors for nearly all accounting exercises is the lack of reliable data at a sufficient level of detail/granularity. While supplier data, discussed above, is a large component of this, companies are also lacking with respect to their own production data and external watershed data. Many companies rely on generic databases that report regional averages rather than their own production data. While this can be useful in quickly identifying material issues, it is not sufficient for a comprehensive assessment of a company’s water use. In addition to improving the ability of suppliers to collect and report such data, pilot testing can also build the capacity of their operations managers so that they understand corporate needs and implement appropriate practices. This could be achieved through management systems, corporate mandates, and training programs. Further, pilot testing can explore avenues through which companies work with governments, civil society groups, and local water managers to access watershed-level data regarding environmental flows, access to water, water quality, etc. that will support their impact and risk assessments. 4. Assessment of water quality Previous corporate water accounting efforts have focused on the impacts and risks associated with water use (i.e. concerns related to water quantity). However, water pollution and other water quality concerns are equally important in companies’ assessment of impacts and risks. Pollution can lead to increased incidence of disease; damaged ecosystems; and the inability of people, agriculture, and industry to use that water at all. Future water accounting must give higher priority to measuring corporate wastewater discharge, assessing its impact on ecosystems and communities, and understanding ambient water quality in the watersheds in which they or their supplier’s operates. Outside of LCA which has well-developed methodologies for assessing water quality impacts, the methods reviewed in this analysis do not sufficiently assess water quality. That said, many companies likely have internal proprietary systems that assess water discharge and local water quality. Pilot testing can advance this practice by exploring LCA as a water quality assessment tool – especially its ability to point companies toward meaningful changes in their water polluting practices and measure improvement - and identifying internal systems that companies can share with others. 5. Harmonized reporting criteria In addition to improved understanding of water-related impacts and business risks, the ability to effectively report to and communicate with key stakeholders is a key goal for water accounting. Stakeholders’ ability to assess this information and guide future corporate water-related practices can be supported through a more consistent approach to reporting, both in terms of one company from location to location and year to year, but also across different companies and industry sectors. Pilot testing can help this convergence of water reporting practices by identifying water use and impacts metrics that are relatively easy to assess for companies and meaningful for key stakeholders, including consumers, investors, environmental representatives, and affected communities. This process will likely require companies to communicate with one another regarding effective metrics to engage with stakeholders in order to better understand their perspectives and needs. 6. Cooperation among companies Acknowledging that many companies contribute to water scarcity and pollution and are exposed to many of the same types of water-related risks, there is a great opportunity for companies to share innovative practices, policies, and technologies that can assist in measuring and analyzing their relation to water resources, as well as contributing to
sustainable water management in general. For instance, companies can share supplier/ facility sustainability guidelines, supplier and watershed data, effective reporting criteria, and accounting approaches. Pilot testing can provide a chance for companies to cooperate in this manner as it will focus on companies in close geographic proximity, who might be likely to have similar suppliers (in the case they are in the same industry sector) and be located in the same watersheds. For example, pilot testers with shared suppliers can work together to encourage more responsible practice and implement education programs. Pilot testers working in the same watershed can pool resources to collect data regarding the local water context and engage with neighboring communities. 51
Page 1 and 2: CORPORATE WATER ACCOUNTING An Analy
Page 3 and 4: 3 Preface The United Nations Enviro
Page 5 and 6: 5 VII. Conveying Water Information
Page 7 and 8: 7 seeking to use existing methods a
Page 9 and 10: 9 ES-1 Summary of Findings on Corpo
Page 11 and 12: 11 I. Introduction Problem statemen
Page 13 and 14: 13 the standards-setting community;
Page 15 and 16: 15 II. Understanding Water Accounti
Page 17 and 18: 17 ficiency may also help companies
Page 19 and 20: 19 III. Origins, Objectives, and St
Page 21 and 22: 21 confusion. For the purpose of th
Page 23 and 24: 23 is that often one does not know
Page 25 and 26: 25 • Water Management Risk Questi
Page 27 and 28: 27 Summary of Scope and Structure f
Page 29 and 30: 29 services to effectively manage a
Page 31 and 32: 31 assessment of relative water ris
Page 33 and 34: 33 relevance than 20,000 gallons of
Page 35 and 36: 35 the functional unit-relative res
Page 37 and 38: 37 Limitations While the concept of
Page 39 and 40: 39 Summary of Accounting Approaches
Page 41 and 42: 41 what is asked of companies in re
Page 43 and 44: 43 assessment. Furthermore, the Too
Page 45 and 46: 45 of the watersheds in which they
Page 47 and 48: 47 to assess business risks. Carbon
Page 49: 49 X. Advancing Corporate Water Acc
Page 53 and 54: 53 Appendix A: List of Research Adv
Page 55 and 56: 55 Overview of LCA entities (partic
Page 57 and 58: 57 competitive advantage. Such a ce
Page 60: The Ten Principles of the United Na

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