On March 22, World Water Day is celebrated around the world. Although there is enough drinking water in regions such as the Baltic States, many countries around the world suffer from a large lack of fresh water. Specialists predict that in the future, freshwater stocks in the world will only decrease, so the conservation of this resource has already become a challenge for the whole world. Joining global freshwater conservation work, Nestlé, one of the world's largest food and beverage producers, publishes the 'Don't waste water!' initiative.
The world's drinking water scarcity statistics make you wonder:
- EUR 1,8 billion faeces-contaminated water is used to drink the world's population;
- EUR 663 million the world's population lacks drinking water sources;
- even 80% of the wastewater in the world goes back into the ecosystem and is not treated or reused.
Nestlé encourages global companies not to waste drinking water and to use recycled wastewater. Nestlé is already innovates at its plants, which allows for a significant reduction in freshwater consumption in production.
As one of the leaders in food and beverage production, Nestlé was the first to introduce so-called zero water technology into its production sites, which allows the use of raw and processed water in the production process. For the first time, this technology was presented in 2014 at a dairy plant in Mexico.
Nestlé is also currently introducing zero water technology at a dairy processing plant in Modesto, California (USA). In total, Nestlé has 9 plants in California, which has been suffering from drought and depleting freshwater supplies for some time. It is estimated that zero water technology will save more than EUR 250 million per year on modesto's existing plant alone. litres of fresh water. About as much per month consumes an average of 100 thousand. Residents of Lithuania (Latvia, Estonia).
Nestlé, a worldwide production facility in 80, has also already found a way to reduce drinking water consumption to 30%. At two ice cream plants in California, the company is innovate, which will save another 100 million euros. a litre of drinking water used in refrigeration systems.
In addition, the company saves millions of liters of fresh water by using treated wastewater in production plants. By improving cooling technology at all California plants where water is poured into bottles and using treated wastewater instead of fresh water, Nestlé plans to save another €220 million a year. a litre of drinking water.
All these innovations will save one of the world's largest producers of food and beverages 576 million a year. a litre of drinking water. On average, more than 230 thousand people consume so much water per month. Population.
Nestlé also calls on other global manufacturing companies to use water sparingly and without waste sewage. The company believes that global unification in joint work will allow the dwindling reserves of drinking water to be maintained.