water@leeds Centre for Water Footprint Assessment & Policy Research
Greater attention is being given to whole life issues of products, including water. There is a trend towards businesses
accountability for the supply chain of products, including wider downstream (consumer-related) impact of products and
services. Yet, there is a major lack of information relating to industrial and commercial water use, efficiency, and the
relationship with energy consumption. Whilst significant focus has been given to the latter, it largely ignores the relationships
which exist with the former, and therefore ignores the opportunities for resource optimized and sustainable systems.
Freshwater is a finite global resource. Its use is not only driven by local or regional requirements, but by global trade in water
intensive commodities such as food and industrial crops, animal products, construction materials, and the rising demand for
modern manufactured products often created through water intensive processes. The characteristics of this consumption,
and the resultant water borne pollution, are that they occur throughout the supply chain and are spatially disconnected from
their ultimate consumers.
The concept of a water footprint has been described as the total annual volume of freshwater used to produce goods and
services related to consumption. It therefore differs from the more traditional idea of water abstraction in that it incorporates
both direct and indirect water use throughout the supply chain, based on water source and the amounts and type of polluted
water produced. It therefore offers a more comprehensive indicator of total water consumption.
The need to become more efficient in water consumption, and therefore the need to understand the water footprint of a product, process, organization etc. is highly apparent both within the UK and on a global basis. Moreover there is a need to understand
the relationship between resources, as well as the ability to relate consumption to social, economic and environmental impact.
Objectives of the Centre
- Establish the first UK research Centre for Water Footprint Assessment and Policy Research at the University of Leeds.
- Create agricultural, industrial and commercial forums in which best practice in water footprint assessment can be
developed and exchanged, and in which collaborative opportunity can be identified.
- Undertake water footprint assessment at a range of sector, organizational, process and product scales.
- Formulate and undertake world class research on water footprint assessment and policy development.
- Generate outcomes highlighting the importance of water footprint as a global concern in consumer psyche ranking
alongside, for example, energy consumption. Use this to drive corporate and social responsibility through supply
chain and policy development.
Contact
For further information, or to become involved with the Centre please contact Dr. Martin Tillotson.
