The results have been drawn from the analysis of the sustainability reports of the largest companies across 34 countries, including the world’s top 250 companies, and the results vary by country. Of those that produce a sustainability report, 95 percent of Indian companies, 69 percent of Spanish companies and 66 percent of UK companies include specific plans to reduce water usage. This contrasts with just 24 percent of Chinese companies and 27 percent of Japan-based companies.
Many companies have not yet fully grasped the importance of strategic planning or communication in relation to long term water supply mitigation and use. Investors are becoming more aware of the risks and opportunities that water scarcity represents within their portfolios and are increasingly looking for companies to build responses into their longer-term strategies.
The report further suggests key elements for companies to consider before compiling their next CR report in order to adequately convince investors of future growth and profitability.