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Work to Achieve Water Efficiency Across Our Operations


Our company has achieved a strong water efficiency performance across our operations in Central and West Africa over recent years. 

We will continue to drive improvements in water efficiency and sustainability across our operations. By 2020, our objective is to achieve an overall reduction of direct water withdrawals per tonne of product of 35%, in every product category, compared to 2010. We also aim to implement detailed guidelines on human rights to water and sanitation due diligence in the region and worldwide. 

Our progress

Between 2010 and 2016, we have reduced water consumption by 35% per tonne of product across our operations in Central and West Africa. 

Water Resources Review 

At Nestlé, we manage the Water Resources Review (WRR) initiative at our factory sites worldwide to help us analyse the impact of a manufacturing facility upon a local water catchment, and the sustainability level of long-term water supply on the site. Since 2009 such reviews have been carried out at our sites in Agbara, Tema, Dakar, Douala, Yopougon and Abidjan. 

This formal process investigates:
•  Water availability (including some key aspects related to the human right to water and sanitation);
•  Water quality;
•  Regulatory compliance;
•  Site protection; and 
•  Stakeholder relations. 

After the review, corrective actions are carried out, as necessary. At most of our sites, we identified that we need to extend our focus beyond the factory site and engage with local stakeholders to address water scarcity issues and pollution risks. Other issues included the need to improve our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Pledge programme and internal water management practices. 

At the Douala factory in Cameroon we have strengthened our leadership in water saving and wastewater treatment initiatives. 

This achievement comes after a WRR took place at the site in 2014 to evaluate the sustainability of water 

resources management at factory level, and at wider community level, in which the facility operates. 

The potential impact of our operations on African communities’ ability to access water is continuously being assessed as part of the WRR. The process will be updated in 2016 to reaffirm our principles on the human right to water and sanitation. 

At factory level

Due to the close proximity between our food manufacturing facility and the Nestlé Waters plant in Agbara in Nigeria, we were able to install a connection to allow the use of surplus water from Nestlé Waters’ deep well at other sites. This led to a reduction in water use with an annual saving of 100,000 m3 of water. 

At our Flowergate factory in Nigeria, we are educating our employees to have a better understanding of water issues and make better-informed decisions to promote effective water stewardship.

 

Our Water Stewardship Commitment 

W Work to achieve water efficiency and sustainability across our operations 

A Advocate for effective water policies and stewardship 

T Treat the water we discharge effectively 

E Engage with farmers on water management as part of coffee farming practices 

R Raise awareness on water conservation and improve access to water and sanitation across our value chain