Carbon Trust launches water standard

The Carbon Trust has launched a certification scheme to help organisations tackle their water consumption

The water standard is similar to the trust’s well-known carbon standard, and requires applicants not only to measure their water use, but demonstrate that they are reducing consumption year-on-year, either in absolute terms or per unit of turnover.

The trust worked with retailer Sainsbury’s, drinks producer Coca-Cola and the UK’s largest laundry firm, Sunlight, to develop the standard’s requirements, which extend to monitoring and lowering the amount of water that leaves premises as trade effluent.

Organisations wanting to certify against the standard will have to pass an audit of their water management system.

“Addressing water use has, until now, not been high on the agenda for many businesses. However, the harsh realities of future water scarcity mean this needs to change, and fast,” said Tom Delay, the trust’s chief executive.