Water footprint is a measure of the total freshwater consumed and polluted to produce a commodity, distinguishing green, blue and grey water components, and used to assess sustainability across water-intensive supply chains.
In trade practice
Buyers sourcing sunflower oil, grains or frozen vegetables from Ukraine may request water footprint data as part of sustainability due diligence. Suppliers calculate figures using ISO 14046 or the Water Footprint Network methodology, drawing on field-level irrigation records and processing water logs. Errors commonly arise when grey water volumes, reflecting pollution dilution, are omitted. Results feed into corporate sustainability reports and increasingly into retailer questionnaires.
In a specification
A procurement specification may require a water footprint assessment conducted in accordance with ISO 14046, with results reported per tonne of finished product and broken down by water type.