8/24/2023

World Water Week: P&G Progresses Toward its Goals to Help Build a Water Positive Future

As the water community comes together at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, we’re energized by the continued progress we’re making to help build a water positive future that can sustain people and nature — now and for generations to come.

Water is one of the key pillars upon which our Ambition 2030 is built, and we’re focused on the areas where we can make the biggest impact. Our comprehensive strategy to help build a water positive future includes restoring water in water-stressed areas for people and nature, responding to water challenges through innovation and partnerships, and reducing water in our operations to help conserve local water supplies. Our newest commitments include restoring more water than is consumed at P&G manufacturing sites in 18 water-stressed areas around the world, in addition to restoring more water than consumed when people use P&G products in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Mexico City.

Watch Procter & Gamble | P&G Progresses to Help Build a Water Positive Future

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Developing the Method Behind P&G’s First-of-its-Kind Water Goal

In creating our water commitments, in addition to considering the amount of water consumed while manufacturing P&G products, we knew we also wanted to consider water use and consumption when people use our products, as it accounts for the majority of P&G’s overall water footprint. To estimate water consumption during P&G product use, we partnered with World Resources Institute (WRI) to develop a new method, which led to setting a first-of-its-kind goal to restore more water than is consumed during the use of P&G products in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Mexico City. Together with WRI, we also made this methodology available for other companies to use.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WATER POSITIVE STRATEGY

Supporting Restoration Projects in 18 Water-Stressed Areas Around the World

Making progress towards our restoration targets includes supporting a portfolio of projects offering a range of solutions to help protect ecosystems, replenish groundwater supplies, reduce the amount of water diverted from essential bodies of water and improve water quality for the local community and the wildlife.

We are currently supporting many projects that are helping restore water resources in critical areas, including in California, Utah, Idaho and Arizona, through our partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). These projects include:

Supporting partners that are creating habitats for migratory bird species
Replenishing groundwater levels
Restoring forestland to reduce the risk of wildfires
Restoring natural habitat, improving water quality
Conserving water resources
Preserving cultural history and enhancing irrigation efficiency for local communities and important wetland habitats in the western U.S.

Last year at World Water Week, P&G and its dishwashing brand Cascade, announced support of the expansion of an innovative leak detection project in Los Angeles — building off of the success of its pilot. With potentially billions of liters wasted each year from leaky toilets in American homes, the initial leak detection pilot project brought forth an innovative solution in the form of a remote leak detection sensor. The pilot was recognized by the Los Angeles Better Buildings Challenge in 2022 after helping to conserve millions of liters of water across three multi-family buildings. Over the last year, Pacific Institute, Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Sensor Industries have been hard at work. In total, the expansion project has installed 1,198 sensors across eight multi-family buildings managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. The project is already catching toilet leaks and is expected to lead to millions of liters of water savings that help progress P&G’s 2030 goal to restore more water than is consumed during the use of P&G products in the metropolitan area of Los Angeles.

Transforming Lives through Clean Water

We know we can have a greater impact when we work together. Through longstanding partnerships, we are unlocking solutions to other water-related challenges. Working in collaboration with more than 150 global advocacy and implementing partners, we have delivered 21 billion liters of clean drinking water to families that lack access to safe drinking water in over 90 countries across the globe. Through our Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program, which has been operating since 2004, we have been providing clean drinking water to children and families in communities around the world with the distribution of P&G’s Purifier of Water packets.

“Water scarcity is a growing threat across the globe, which is why it’s critical for us to collaborate and unlock new approaches to solve water challenges and advance sustainable innovation,” said Shannon Quinn, P&G’s Global Water Stewardship Leader. “While we still have progress to make, I’m looking forward to embracing the opportunities ahead and working with our partners, communities and stakeholders to leave a lasting, positive impact on people and the planet."