Ecolab and CDP Launch Water Use Efficiency Index to Benchmark Industrial Water Performance
Event summary
- Ecolab and CDP launched the Water Use Efficiency Index at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on January 20, 2026.
- The Index provides sector-specific benchmarks for operational water use efficiency, starting with the Beverage and Brew segment of the Food, Beverage and Agriculture industry.
- The Index draws on CDP’s database of over 10,000 annual corporate water disclosures and Ecolab’s insights from millions of customer locations.
- Best-in-Class benchmarks for Beverage (Carbonated Soft Drinks) are 1.2–1.4 Liters of water per Liter of product at the location level and 1.5–1.8 L/L at the enterprise level.
- Best-in-Class benchmarks for Brew are 1.4–2.0 Hectoliters of water per Hectoliters of product at the location level and 2.0–3.0 hL/hL at the enterprise level.
The big picture
The partnership between Ecolab and CDP addresses the growing global water crisis, with freshwater demand projected to outstrip supply by 56% by 2030. The Water Use Efficiency Index aims to help companies reduce costs, strengthen resilience, and ease pressure on shared water resources, particularly in water-stressed regions. This initiative is critical as water-intensive sectors like food, beverage, and agriculture account for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals.
What we're watching
- Adoption Pace
- How quickly other water-intensive sectors will adopt the Water Use Efficiency Index after the initial Beverage and Brew pilot.
- Regulatory Impact
- Whether the Index will influence future water management regulations and reporting requirements for industries.
- Competitive Response
- How competitors in the water management and sustainability space will react to Ecolab and CDP’s partnership and the new benchmark.
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