Top

September 2015 News

Alliance for Water Stewardship / News and Events  / September 2015 News

September 2015 News

September 2015

Ecolab Taicang is first AWS certified site

We are delighted to share the exciting news that Ecolab Inc. has achieved AWS certification for its manufacturing plant in Taicang, China. This is the first site in the world to be independently certified to the AWS International Water Stewardship Standard.

This first certification is a critical milestone as we pursue our mission to promote responsible use of freshwater. It is fitting that Ecolab is the first company to achieve certification, given their leadership in driving improved water use and their consistent support of the aims of AWS.

Ecolab partnered with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to field test and implement the AWS Standard at its Taicang manufacturing plant, which is located in a water-sensitive area in the Taihu basin of the Yangtze region.

This work resulted in a systematic approach to water stewardship that included implementation of water reduction projects within the facility as well as initial collective action with other water users and stakeholders, including local authorities, operating within the same catchment.

Ecolab’s facility in Taicang opened in August 2012 and is the company’s largest site in the Asia Pacific region. The facility produces a complete portfolio of cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection prevention solutions for customers in a wide range of growing industries, including: food and beverage production, food retail, hospitality, healthcare and dairy, meat and poultry processing.

The certification audit of Ecolab’s Taicang site was performed by TÜV Rheinland, one of a growing number of AWS-accredited service providers, providing the capacity for companies to understand, implement and be assessed for responsible water stewardship. In September 2015, TÜV Rheinland certified the Taicang manufacturing plant as “AWS Core Certified.”

We congratulate Ecolab on their leadership and look forward to the next steps of our collective journey towards sustainable use of freshwater.

To read the full Ecolab press release please visit http://www.ecolab.com/news/ecolab-is-first-in-the-world-to-receive-alliance-for-water-stewardship-standard-certification-20150930/

To download the AWS Standard please visit http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/aws-standard-system.html#aws-standard

To find an AWS-accredited service provider to support you in your water stewardship work please visit http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/verification.html#aws-accredited-organizations


AWS INTRODUCTORY MEMBERSHIP NOW OPEN

We are pleased to announce that applications for AWS Introductory Membership are now being accepted. “Introductory Membership” is the first phase of AWS membership and will last up to the end of 2016. Organizations joining AWS as introductory members will participate in the design of a long-term membership package to be implemented from 2017. Joining AWS as an Introductory Member will provide the opportunity to

  • Promote your organization’s support for responsible use of freshwater
  • Help shape the technical development of the AWS system, including the AWS Standard, verification system and accreditation program.
  • Participate in shaping AWS governance and organizational structures
  • Build partnerships with other leading organizations

For more information and to download an application form, please visit http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/get-involved.html#join-aws


FIRST AWS ACCREDITED SERVICE PROVIDERS ANNOUNCED

In September the first agreements for AWS Interim Accreditation were signed. These agreements are with Bureau Veritas China for training and conformity assessment services, and with TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd. for conformity assessment services. The AWS Accreditation Program is a fundamental part of our strategy to build water stewardship capacity and maintain the integrity of the AWS system. AWS accredited organizations must demonstrate significant expertise and experience relevant to their areas of accreditation, and individuals delivering services must undergo up-front and on-going training to ensure the best quality of service for clients implementing water stewardship. We expect additional organizations to gain AWS interim accreditation on a rolling basis over the next few months. For up-to-date information on AWS Accredited organizations please visit http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/verification.html#aws-accredited-organizations


VERIFICATION SYSTEM DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED

In July we published the three sets of requirements which together outline the AWS verification system. This follows an expensive period of analysis and a public consultation in late 2014. The verification system provides for two types of assessment against the AWS Standard: self-verification and certification through an AWS accredited conformity assessment body (CAB). The three sets of requirements are: AWS Self-Verification Requirements, AWS Certification Requirements and AWS Interim Accreditation Requirements. All of these documents can be downloaded from our website at http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/verification.htm


NEW AWS TEAM MEMBERS

We are excited to welcome two new members to the AWS team. Zhenzhen Xu joins as Asia Pacific Regional Director, based out of Shanghai. Richard Robertson joins as Technical Manager, initially on a 50% basis. Richard is based out of Vancouver. Both bring considerable skill and experience to their respective roles. These appointments have been made possible by the generous support of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through its partnership agreement with Water Stewardship Australia.  The Australian Government is committed to involving business in resolving water challenges and creating pathways for sustainable development in the Indo Pacific region. To find out more please read the full announcement at http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/assets/documents/AWS_WSA_NewAppointment.pdf


TRAINING SCHEDULE MODIFIED

We have made some changes to our training schedule for the rest of 2015. Please visit http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/aws-standard-system.html#training for up-to-date information on training opportunities in South Africa, Pakistan and USA.


SUCCESSFUL EVENT AT STOCKHOLM WORLD WATER WEEK

At the recent Stockholm World Water Week AWS and Water Footprint Network co-convened a session entitled “Feeding Nine Billion People: How Water Stewardship Can Help”. An audience of 230 people enjoyed an interactive discussion that critically explored the potential of water stewardship to drive more sustainability through agricultural supply chains, and thereby contribute to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Invited speakers and panellists included Josefina Maestu Coordinator of the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication and Director of the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action;  Timothy Williams Director for Africa at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Erika Zarata Regional Director Good Stuff International; Chris Brown General Manager for Environmental Sustainability, Olam;  Dilip Kulkarni, President of Food & Agriculture Division, Jain Irrigation; Carlo Galli, Technical & Strategic Advisor for Water Resources, Nestle, and;  Simon Reid Sustainability Manager at Marks & Spencer


REGIONAL UPDATES

Asia Pacific
The first Asia Pacific Water Stewardship Forum was held in Brisbane, Australia on 23rd September in conjunction with the International Rivers Symposium (IRS).  The Forum brought together practitioners from across the region to update their knowledge. More information coming soon via the Water Stewardship Australia website: http://waterstewardship.org.au/

Southern Africa
We are holding 3 training workshops in Pretoria, 14-16th October (14th Foundation of Water Stewardship, 15th Advanced training in the AWS Standard. 16th AWS Specialised Training). For more information visit http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/aws-standard-system.html#training or contact Mark Dent, our Regional Manager for Southern Africa at mark@allianceforwaterstewardship.org

Mark will also be presenting at the South African National Business Initiative Thought Leadership Series Climate & Water Seminar being held on 30 September in Durban. The meeting will be co-hosted by Grindrod.

South Asia
Together with our partners at CRB, we held three Foundations of Water Stewardship Training programs in India in mid-September. The trainings were held in Mumbai, Bengaluru and the knitwear hub of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu.

The next South Asia training opportunities will be in Lahore, Pakistan from 27th to 29th October when we will be presenting Foundation of Water Stewardship, Advanced training in the AWS Standard and AWS Specialist training modules. Please get in touch for more information.

While in India, Adrian Sym, our Executive Director, also spoke on a panel with senior figures from Indian business and civil society at the Water Conclave hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), as well as at the project launch event for “Increasing water use efficiency in Sugarcane Growing India” in Hyderabad.

North America
AWS will host Foundation, Advanced and Specialist training at on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, November 12th and 13th. For more information visit http://allianceforwaterstewardship.org/aws-standard-system.html#training or contact Matt Howard, our Regional Director for North America aws@thewatercouncil.com. You can also follow our progress in North America on Twitter @WaterStewardNA.

Latin America
Unfortunately, the planned training in Brazil at the end of September has been postponed, with a tentative rescheduling for May or June 2016. We are also exploring other possibilities in Latin America.


UP-COMING EVENTS

India and Sustainability Standards: 18-20 November, Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Delhi. This conference is being organized by the Centre for Responsible Business. AWS will be supporting and participating in the conference.

FT WATER SUMMIT 2015
The new bottom line: collaborative solutions for growth

AWS will be a supporting partner of the forthcoming FT Water Summit, taking place on 27 October 2015 in the Millennium Hotel Mayfair, London. For full event details and to register, please visit http://live.ft.com/water.  Please use code AWS20 when registering to claim your 20% AWS discount.

Join 200+ leading international corporate heads of sustainability and water, plus policy-makers, banks and investors and executives from leading utilities, engineering and technology companies at the inaugural FT Water Summit.

Register now and discover how water can impact on your corporate operations, supply chain and brand, and hear how leading multinational companies and their water-intensive supply chains are working collaboratively to align waterstewardship with business growth.
Save 20% on the ticket price courtesy of AWS. Quote code AWS20 when registering online at http://live.ft.com/water
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

  • CHAIR: Pilita Clark, Environment Correspondent, Financial Times
  • Greg Koch, Managing Director, Global, Water Stewardship, Environment and Water Resources Department,The Coca-Cola Company
  • Gary White, CEO and Co-Founder, Water.org
  • John Church, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain, General Mills
  • Chris Brown, Global Corporate, Responsibility and Sustainability Environment Manager, Olam
  • Michael Alexander, Head of Environment, Water, Agriculture Sustainability, Diageo
  • Junaid Ahmad, Senior Director, Water, World Bank Group
  • Anthony Cox, Deputy Director, Environment, Directorate, OECD
  • John Davidson, General Counsel and Corporate Affairs Director, SABMiller

To view the full speaker list and programme, visit the Summit website http://live.ft.com/water.

WHY ATTEND:

  • Be a part of the only global water conference researched and designed to provide sustainability and environment professionals from corporations – and the water-intensive companies in their supply chains – with collaborative solutions for growth
  • Learn from practical, real world examples of how forward thinking corporations (including Diageo, General Mills, Coca Cola, Olam, SABMiller) are managing water risk to increase profitability.
  • Discover how companies operating in water scarce regions are working better together to manage risk.
  • Learn about the fiscal and regulatory environment at international, national, and local level
  • Learn how global companies are managing water across fragmented supply chains and multiple jurisdiction