Ecolab Inc. and CDP have announced a strategic partnership to launch the Water Use Efficiency Index, a new benchmark aimed at helping companies measure, compare and improve operational water performance.
Unveiled at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, the Index will provide sector-specific ranges for best-in-class water use efficiency and optimised targets, enabling business leaders to assess performance and identify improvement pathways. The initiative will begin with a pilot focused on the beverage and brew segment of the food, beverage and agriculture sector, one of the most water-intensive industries globally.
The partners said water use efficiency is among the most immediate and controllable levers for companies operating in water-stressed regions, helping to reduce costs, strengthen resilience and ease pressure on shared water resources. Global freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply by 56% by 2030, while around 60% of global GDP depends on reliable access to water. Food, beverage and agriculture account for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals.
The Index is designed to offer a data-driven view of best-in-class operational water use across industries, allowing companies to benchmark performance against peers, identify efficiency gains and develop roadmaps to scale circular water management practices. Improved water performance can also lower total operating costs, given that up to 75% of manufacturing energy use is linked to moving, heating and treating water.
“Water is the foundation of life and business,” said Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab. “Our partnership with CDP aims to be a catalyst for transforming industrial water use. By championing best-in-class operational performance, companies can move towards meaningful growth and positive impact.”
Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP, said water is a critical economic input across sectors including AI, semiconductors and manufacturing. “As water stress intensifies, companies that understand, manage and improve their water use will be better positioned to protect margins, secure supply chains and attract capital,” she said.
The Index draws on CDP’s database of more than 10,000 annual corporate water disclosures, Ecolab’s insights from millions of customer locations across 40 industries and 170 countries, and data from trade organisations. Using this combined dataset, it establishes best-in-class benchmarks and highlights leading enterprise-level performance among reporting peers.
For the beverage and brew segment, benchmarks include best-in-class location water use of 1.2–1.4 litres of water per litre of product for carbonated soft drinks, and 1.4–2.0 hectolitres of water per hectolitre of product for brewing, with higher ranges defined at enterprise level.
“By combining CDP’s disclosure data with Ecolab’s industry expertise, we are giving companies a clear view of where they stand operationally against industry norms and best-in-class performance,” said Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab. “Together, we are helping companies turn disclosure into action to improve efficiency and lower costs.”
