We are committed to becoming more effi cient water users and reducing the impact of our water footprint. We will also help suppliers reduce the impact of their water footprint and avoid confl ict with local communities over the use of water.
Towards zero water intake for Walkers Crisps manufacturing sitesheading copy
Between 2001 and 2007, we reduced the water used in the manufacturing of Walkers Crisps by 42%. Building on this reduction, in 2008 we pledged to achieve zero water intake at our Walkers Crisps manufacturing sites within 10 years.
We are pioneering technology to allow us to use water embedded in our potatoes. Its development is taking more time than anticipated but we are confident we will have a solution in the next few years.
Reducing water use
We are reducing our water intake by closely monitoring water usage, recycling when possible, investing in improved technology and empowering employees to use water more efficiently. In 2008, our PIUK manufacturing sites used 2.1% less water per kilogram of product. Although our 2008 results were disappointing, we are expecting a significant decrease in 2009 and remain confident that we will manage a 45% reduction by 2010.
Pledge: Achieve zero water intake at our Walkers Crisps manufacturing sites within 10 years.
Progress: Initial development of new technology to extract water embedded in our potatoes is promising. Final delivery will be challenging.
Figure 9: Water reduction per kg of product at PIUK manufacturing sites
Water challenges
Our key crops - including oranges, potatoes, oats and maize - all require plentiful clean water to grow. How we source water and control run-off determines whether we have a positive or negative impact on the local environment. Floods, droughts or pollution can directly affect our supply chain. The health of the river basins and lakes that we and our growers rely upon is crucial to our business. We have a keen interest that they are managed sustainably.
Scarcity or excess of water in those specific watersheds is a risk to our business and supply chains, determining our ability to grow raw materials, operate our factories and ensure the sustainability of the communities and ecosystems we operate in. Drought and flooding severely impact crop yields and quality, directly affecting our bottom line. Climate change may lead to greater variability and unpredictability in weather patterns and water availability.
We are committed to working in our business and with our supply chains to understand our water footprint, the impact of the water we use and discharge, and how we can work with the communities and watersheds in which we operate to reduce this impact. We have partnered with the Water Footprint Network to pilot the Water Footprint Accounting methodology for the Tropicana orange juice supply chain, stretching all the way from the UK to Brazil via Holland.
Pledge: Reduce water use at British manufacturing sites by a further 45% per kg of production within 3 years.
Progress: 2008 saw only a small water reduction of 2.1%, due to consumer promotions and site challenges. We remain confident of delivering our pledge.
