Boosting water efficiency
The water used in the manufacturing process is a relatively small part of total water use in
food production. But it has direct local impacts in the UK and is increasingly the focus of
attention in relation to the overall balance of supply and demand for domestic and other
purposes, and associated environmental impacts.
Our Commitment
To achieve significant savings in water use to help reduce stress on the
nation's water supplies and contribute to an industry-wide absolute target to
reduce
water use (excluding
that embedded in products) by 20% by 2020 compared to 2007.
Progress Made
Our ambition to reduce operational water use is delivered through the Federation
House Commitment (FHC) launched in 2008 to improve water efficiency in the food
and drink
manufacturing sector.
The commitment is a partnership between FDF and WRAP.
The third annual FHC progress report, published in October 2011, showed that in
2010 signatories reduced their water use (excluding that in product) by 5.3%
compared to 2007 –
equivalent to almost 1.3 million m3 or 520 Olympic swimming pools.
This reduction is all the more impressive given that production for these sites
increased by 7.5% in 2010, whilst water use (excluding that in product) per
tonne of product decreased by 11.9%.
In addition, between April 2010 and March 2011, 16 new signatories joined the
FHC. This brings the total to 54 active signatories, across 245 sites
throughout
the UK, engaged in
making on-site improvements to reduce their water use.
Signatories to the FHC have the opportunity to join peer working groups, make
use of free one to one on-site support from technical advisors, and share best
practice.
In 2011, FHC administrators reviewed all data submitted since the FHC was
launched to clarify baselines and ensure comparability and consistency in
calculation
and reporting.
This has resulted in some corrections to previous data, and future progress
will
be reported on the new basis.
Beyond the FHC, FDF and its members are working with the British Standards
Institution to help develop an ISO standard for a water footprint. We actively
contributed to Defra's work on
developing a Water White Paper.
As part of our new aims, we have also been looking at ways of improving water
use and management throughout the supply chain. We are separately publishing a
new
guide – Every Last
Drop – setting out practical advice for businesses on what can be done.
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