Industrial water conservation by water footprint and Sustainable Development Goals
Ashish Kumar, Abhinay Thakur
Abstract
The industrial sector plays a significant role in global water consumption and faces mounting pressure to mitigate its environmental impact. By integrating the water footprint concept with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a holistic approach to industrial water conservation can be achieved. This chapter begins by highlighting the growing concerns surrounding water scarcity and its linkages to industrial activities. It examines the concept of water footprint, which quantifies the amount of freshwater used throughout the life cycle of a product or process. Moreover, this chapter emphasizes the alignment between water footprint assessment and the SDGs. The SDGs provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable development, including Goal 6, which specifically addresses clean water and sanitation. By incorporating water footprint assessment into SDG implementation strategies, industries can contribute to multiple goals simultaneously, such as responsible consumption and production, climate action, and life below water. Furthermore, this chapter discusses the practical approaches to industrial water conservation, encompassing technological advancements, policy interventions, and stakeholder engagement. It showcases successful case studies from various industries that have implemented water-saving initiatives, highlighting the economic, environmental, and social benefits achieved. Lastly, this chapter outlines future directions for research and action. It emphasizes the importance of integrating water footprint assessment into sustainability assessments, encouraging companies to adopt transparent reporting practices and promoting collaboration between stakeholders to address water-related challenges collectively.