Ecolab Releases Global Study on the State of Water Stewardship, Reveals Consumer Concern for the World’s Water
- Access to clean and safe water is a leading concern for consumers globally
- Consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable goods
- Consumers do not believe that governments and businesses care enough about water conservation
- Industry is perceived to have no clear plan to address water scarcity
The Ecolab Watermark™ Study found access to clean and safe water to be a leading environmental concern for consumers across the globe, including
By 2030, the planet is set to face a
Among its global findings, the Ecolab Watermark Study uncovered several critical water-related trends:
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Access to clean and safe water is a paramount concern for consumers in every region.
Latin America (92% ),China (85% ) and theU.S. (81% ) have the highest percentage of consumers who are more concerned about access to clean and safe water than other climate-related issues, such as pollution or climate change. -
Consumers hold governments and businesses most responsible for water conservation. However, consumers do not believe these leaders care enough about their impact on water or climate change. This was most pronounced in the
U.S. ,Europe ,Latin America andAsia/Pacific , where between42% and46% of people believed their leaders cared. -
Consumers believe that industry has no clear plan to address water scarcity, despite the perceived responsibility and importance. This concern is most evident in
China (82% ),Latin America (78% ), and IMEA (78% ), but also noticeably visible inEurope (66% ), theU.S. (65% ) andAsia/Pacific (60% ).
“The water crisis impacts communities regardless of location and is often overlooked in the global response to climate change. As we continue our work to transform the way the world thinks about water, the results from the Ecolab Watermark Study should galvanize leaders to assume a larger role in protecting this precious and finite resource,” said Christophe Beck, chairman and chief executive officer, Ecolab. “Time is running out to address this challenge, and consumers across the world are saying that businesses must act now. The good news for industry is that meeting this responsibility can deliver positive sustainability and business outcomes.”
In response to the perceived lack of accountability, consumers are themselves adopting environmentally friendly buying behaviors. According to the study, consumers are willing to stop purchasing products that require a significant amount of water to produce, as well as pay more for goods that are made using sustainable business practices, particularly in IMEA (
Despite the known challenges, consumers remain optimistic that the water crisis can be mitigated with proper and immediate action. On average, three out of four consumers across the globe believe that water scarcity can be effectively addressed, according to the study, with the optimism most evident in
“If industry is not at the table to advocate and develop climate and water solutions that protect our communities, we will continue to fuel consumer sentiment that we’re not doing enough,” said Emilio Tenuta, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, Ecolab. “By focusing solely on water and consumer perceptions of the ongoing crisis, the Ecolab Watermark Study provides unique insights on where and how stakeholders—whether its government, businesses, NGOs or even individuals—can work together to successfully address critical global challenges.”
In addition to offering global and regional findings, the Ecolab Watermark Study includes data for 15 individual countries. The
The Ecolab Watermark Study was conducted in partnership with Morning Consult in 2023 among a sample of general population adults. Ecolab will update and release new editions of its Ecolab Watermark Study annually. For detailed results, including an interactive dashboard, visit watermark.ecolab.com.
About Ecolab
A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Building on a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of
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About the Ecolab Watermark™ Study
Launched in 2023, the Ecolab Watermark Study is annual research conducted by Ecolab. The global study reports on the state of water stewardship by measuring water’s importance, usage, connection to climate and responsibility among key consumer populations. This research was conducted between February 15 – March 3, 2023, among a sample of general population adults. The interviews were conducted online. Results from the full study have a margin of error of plus or minus 2–3 percentage points. Some geographies may be weighted with fewer variables depending on local census data availability.
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Torry Whitney
651-250-4724
MediaRelations@Ecolab.com
Source: Ecolab Inc.