Beverage and food companies understand the value of water. Yet, freshwater in many regions is increasingly at risk. Even if agriculture accounts for 70% of global water use, and for many food and beverage companies, commodities (sugar, fruit, grains, etc.) represent critical ingredients for their products, rarely these companies directly control the production of these commodities. In fact, they are a part of their supply chains, and increasingly a part of their supply chains where water risk has the potential to materially impact production or brand. The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) launched a new tool aimed at helping companies analyse water risks in supply chains. Jerry Lynch, vice president, chief sustainability officer at General Mills said the AWS standard will help the company to meet its responsibility to “protect the quality and supply of waterupon which our business depends.” By focusing on targets in water governance, water balance, water quality and other important water related areas, the standard will help water-users understand the value of water, mitigate their water risks, and earn recognition for responsible water stewardship. The standard also serves as an invitation and guide to inspire collective action, since the issues are too big for any company to manage alone. For AWS, this is just one step. The private sector, governments and communities have to play a mutually supporting role for responsible water management. And we all have to take action to safeguard the essential shared resource we cannot live without. The gLAWcal Team Tuesday, 8 April 2014 (Source: The Guardian)