scholarly journals Organizational Water Footprint to Support Decision Making: a Case Study for a German Technological Solutions Provider for the Plumbing Industry

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Forin ◽  
Jutta Gossmann ◽  
Christoph Weis ◽  
Daniel Thylmann ◽  
Jonas Bunsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Cradle To Gate ◽  
Local Impacts ◽  
One Year ◽  
Design Options ◽  
Freshwater Consumption

With water scarcity representing an increasing threat to humans, the environment and the economy, companies are interested in exploring how their operations and supply chains affect water resources globally. To allow for systematically compiling the water footprint at the company level, the organizational water footprint method based on ISO 14046 and ISO/TS 14072 was developed. This paper presents the first complete organizational water scarcity footprint case study carried out for Neoperl GmbH, a German company that offers innovative solutions regarding drinking water for the plumbing industry. The cradle-to-gate assessment for one year includes, besides facility-based production activities, purchased materials, electricity and fuels, and supporting activities, such as company vehicles and infrastructure. Neoperl’s total freshwater consumption amounts to approximately 110,000 m3, 96% thereof being attributable to the supply chain, with freshwater consumption through purchased metals playing the predominant role. Metals (mainly stainless steel and brass) are major hotspots, also when considering the water scarcity-related local impacts resulting from freshwater consumption, which mainly affect China and Chile. These results can be used to improve the company’s supply chain water use in cooperation with internal and external stakeholders by means of, e.g., sustainable purchase strategies or eco-design options to substitute water intensive materials.

scholarly journals An assessment of the urban water footprint and blue water scarcity: A case study for Van (Turkey)

2022 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Yerli ◽  
U. Sahin
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Agricultural Planning ◽  
Harvest Dates

Abstract Today, most of the world’s population faces water scarcity, while global warming, urbanization, industrialization and population increases continue to increase the severity of the pressure on water resources. Management of water resources plays a key role in the sustainability of agricultural production. The water footprint (WF) is different in comparison to other water statistics because it takes direct and indirect water consumption into account, and helps in the management of water resources. Within this context, the WF of Van province, which is Turkey’s most easterly located arid region, was calculated from 2004 to 2019. The study area covers lake Van, which is Turkey's largest lake, and the Van basin with an area of 23.334 km2 and a population of 1.136.757 (2019). In the calculations, crop (WFcrop), livestock (WFlivestock), and domestic and industrial water footprints (WFdomestic+industrial) were evaluated separately, and blue and green water footprints (WFblue and WFgreen) were analyzed in detail. According to the results, the average WF of Van province was found to be 8.73 billion m3 year-1. Throughout the province, 87.6% of the WF is composed of WFcrop, 4.9% is WFlivestock and 7.5% is WFdomestic+industrial. Of the WFcrop, 62.5% depends on WFblue, i.e., freshwater. Most of the WFlivestock consisted of dairy cattle (49%) and sheep (38%). The average WFdomestic+industrial for 2004 to 2019 was 0.64 billion m3 year-1. The average per capita water footprint of Van province was found to be 889.9 m3 year-1 capita-1. In addition, the province is classified as severe water scarcity (257%). This study is one of the first province-based calculations of WF in Turkey and is the first study to bring a different aspect to published literature by including residual soil moisture from the winter months. As a result of this study, the WFblue of the WFcrop is above the worldwide average and should be reduced by changing the crop pattern or synchronizing the planting and harvest dates of the crops to a period that benefits from precipitation. In addition, this study is expected to contribute to new studies for calculating the provincial scale WF and will have positive effects on agricultural planning, water allocation and the sustainability of water resources.

Stakeholder engagement toward value co-creation in the F&B packaging industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella Giacomarra ◽  
Maria Crescimanno ◽  
Georgia Sakka ◽  
Antonino Galati
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Stakeholder Pressure ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Internal Stakeholders ◽  
Stakeholder Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how a food and beverage packaging company manages internal and external stakeholders to achieve sustainable innovation outcomes, as well as to contribute to the spread of sustainability paths along the supply chain, on which it operates. Design/methodology/approach A case study approach was chosen and applied multiple methods of semi-structured interviews and a documentation review. Findings Results reveal a structured stakeholder relationship management, according to which the packaging company acts through a stakeholder engagement process to both acquire and share new knowledge to address stakeholder pressure. Co-creation models result in a winning strategy to exploit knowledge, above all in a supply chain context, where actors should act as a part of a strictly interlinked system, involving external stakeholders (also suppliers) and internal stakeholders in joint eco-innovation projects. The case study shows the potential strategic role of a packaging company in affecting relevant actors of the supply chain through the promotion of a sustainability culture. Research limitations/implications The first limitation is linked to the chosen case study approach, which does not allow for results to be generalized. Future works could arrange panel data analysis to investigate in depth the behavior of several packaging companies regarding stakeholder relationship management. Practical implications Managerial implications mainly underline that, to fully address market stakeholder pressure, managers should recognize the relevance of acquiring and sharing new knowledge from external sources, without underestimating the need to integrate it with internal stakeholders (employees) for its exploitation. Originality/value The present work is original for the food and beverage industry, with specific attention on the packaging sector, which, until today, has been widely investigated regarding food and waste loss reduction strategies, but less often from the perspective of stakeholder relationship management in addressing sustainability.

scholarly journals An Improved System Dynamics Model to Evaluate Regional Water Scarcity from a Virtual Water Perspective: A Case Study of Henan Province, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7517
Author(s):  
Zhaodan Wu ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Yu Hua ◽  
Quanliang Ye ◽  
Lixiao Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Virtual Water ◽  
System Dynamics Model ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
Structure Adjustment ◽  
Regional Water

An accurate and practically useful evaluation of regional water scarcity is a necessary procedure in scarcity monitoring and threat mitigation. From the perspective of virtual water, this study proposed an improved system dynamics model to evaluate regional water scarcity (WS), including a case study of Henan province, China. We enhanced the existing system dynamics model of WS evaluation from a virtual water perspective by (1) defining WS as the ratio of the consumption-based blue water footprint to water availability, in order to compare the water requirements that need to be met to satisfy the local demand of goods and services with water supply; (2) integrating the economic growth, trade, and water use efficiency in the tertiary industry (e.g., accommodation, food and beverage services) into the model, in order to improve the accuracy of WS assessment and help find more specific measures to reduce WS by factor adjustment; (3) distinguishing the product use structure matrix, as well as the sectoral direct water use coefficient, in local regions from that in other domestic regions and foreign countries, and identifying the regional use structure matrices of products from these three kinds of regions, in order to increase the calculating veracity; and (4) displaying performances of the society, economy, and environment in WS reduction, in order to offer a more comprehensive reference for practical policy decisions. The case study results show that Henan has been suffering from, and in the near future could continue to face, water scarcity, with an average of 2.19 and an annual rise of 1.37% during 2008–2030. In the scenario comparison of current development, production structure adjustment, technology upgrade, and trade structure adjustment in supply-side structural reform of Henan from 2019 to 2030, WS could be reduced by updating production structures into less production of agricultural products or other sectors with a high production-based water footprint (with the smallest average WS of 2.02 and the second smallest total population and GDP, i.e., gross domestic production), technology enhancement in water saving, purification and pollution control (with the second smallest average WS of 2.04 and the largest total population, GDP and total available water resources). Furthermore, for the agricultural products or other sectors with high domestic/international virtual water outflow (inflow), if we reduce (increase) their percentage of outflow (inflow) in the industry involved, WS will increase only more slightly than that when we keep the current development trend, with the smallest total population. Potential measures for alleviating WS should be taken comprehensively, with priorities being identified according to the socioeconomic and environmental performance. Our model can be useful for practical policymaking and valuable for relevant research worldwide.

Assessing water footprint for the oil palm supply chain- a cradle to gate study

2020 ◽  
Vol 237 ◽  
pp. 106184
Author(s):  
Vijaya Subramaniam ◽  
Zulkifli Hashim ◽  
Soh Kheang Loh ◽  
Abdul Aziz Astimar
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Cradle To Gate

scholarly journals Addressing water quality in water footprinting: current status, methods and limitations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Mikosch ◽  
Markus Berger ◽  
Matthias Finkbeiner
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
Textile Processing ◽  
Water Footprinting

Abstract Purpose In contrast to water consumption, water pollution has gained less attention in water footprinting so far. Unlike water scarcity impact assessment, on which a consensus has recently been achieved, there is no agreement on how to address water quality deterioration in water footprinting. This paper provides an overview of existing water footprint methods to calculate impacts associated with water pollution and discusses their strengths and limitations using an illustrative example. Methods The methods are described and applied to a case study for the wastewater generated in textile processing. The results for two scenarios with different water quality parameters are evaluated against each other and the water scarcity footprint (WSF). Finally, methodological aspects, strengths and limitations of each method are analysed and discussed and recommendations for the methods application are provided. Results and discussion Two general impact assessment approaches exist to address water quality in water footprinting: the Water Degradation Footprint (WDF) calculates the impacts associated with the propagation of released pollutants in the environment and their uptake by the population and ecosystem, while the Water Availability Footprint (WAF) quantifies the impacts related to the water deprivation, when polluted water cannot be used. Overall, seven methods to consider water quality in water footprinting were identified, which rely upon one or a combination of WDF, WAF and WSF. Methodological scopes significantly vary regarding the inventory requirements and provided results (a single-score or several impact categories). The case study demonstrated that the methods provide conflicting results concerning which scenario is less harmful with regard to the water pollution. Conclusions This paper provides a review of the water pollution assessment methods in water footprinting and analyses their modelling choices and resulting effects on the WF. With regard to the identified inconsistencies, we reveal the urgent need for a guidance for the methods application to provide robust results and allow a consistent evaluation of the water quality in water footprinting.

scholarly journals Supply–Demand of Water Resource of a Basin With High Anthropic Pressure: Case Study Quenane-Quenanito Basin in Colombia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 117862212091772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar I Vargas-Pineda ◽  
Juan M Trujillo-González ◽  
Marco A Torres-Mora
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Hydrological Simulation ◽  
Demand And Supply ◽  
Over Exploitation ◽  
Anthropic Pressure

Water scarcity has increased in the last century due to the effects of climate change and the over-exploitation of anthropic activities that deteriorate strategic ecosystems in watersheds. This study quantified the water consumption of anthropic activities according to the water footprint (WF) and the water supply available (WSA) using the GR2M hydrological simulation model in the Quenane-Quenanito basin in Colombia. The objective of this study was to analyze the dynamic supply–demand of water and identify potential conflicts associated with the use of water. The results of this study show that the WF of the basin was 17.01 million m3/year, 79.97% of which was the green WF and 20.03% of which was the blue WF, and that the WSA of the basin was 272.1 million m3/year. In addition, potential conflicts over the use of water were identified due to water scarcity in 11 sub-basins during the months of January to March. In conclusion, analyzing the demand and supply of water in basins and taking into account their spatiotemporal distribution allows us to measure the impacts of anthropic activities on water resources, which can prevent potential conflicts associated with the use of water between sectors or the involvement of ecological dynamics.

scholarly journals Reducing Water Scarcity by Reducing Food Loss and Waste

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Landon T. Marston ◽  
Quentin D. Read ◽  
Samuel P. Brown ◽  
Mary K. Muth
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
System Level ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Policy Action ◽  
Food Loss ◽  
Simplifying Assumptions ◽  
Policy Measures

Water scarcity is a pervasive threat to society that is expected to intensify alongside a growing and more affluent population and a changing climate. In this paper, we review the existing literature to assess the potential of lessening water scarcity by reducing food loss and waste. Existing studies reveal the scope of food loss and waste and its accompanying impact on water resources, thereby providing a foundation for policy action. We highlight existing or proposed food loss and waste reduction measures and review available evidence concerning their impact on water resources. Our review reveals that there is a deficit of research that can guide specific policy interventions aimed at mitigating water scarcity by reducing food loss and waste. Instead, the last decade of research has primarily focused on quantifying the current water footprint of food loss and waste for different locations, points within the supply chain, and food groups. Yet, the degree of uncertainty inherent in these estimates, their lack of precision, and several simplifying assumptions make it difficult to translate this research into robust policy measures to reduce the environmental burden of food loss and waste. We conclude by advancing a research agenda that will (i) quantify and reduce uncertainty through enhanced data collection and methods; (ii) holistically assess policy measures, including system level impacts and feedback; (iii) develop methods and technologies for transparent supply chain tracing. Together, advances in these areas will guide and ground food loss and waste policy toward reducing water scarcity.

Blockchain in Supply Chain: Case Study of Lottemart Ciputat

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Handoyo ◽  
M. R. Mashudi ◽  
H. P. Ipung
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Production Processes

Current supply chain methods are having difficulties in resolving problems arising from the lack of trust in supply chains. The root reason lies in two challenges brought to the traditional mechanism: self-interests of supply chain members and information asymmetry in production processes. Blockchain is a promising technology to address these problems. The key objective of this paper is to present qualitative analysis for blockchain in supply chain as the decision-making framework to implement this new technology. The analysis method used Val IT business case framework, validated by the expert judgements. The further study needs to be elaborated by either the existing organization that use blockchain or assessment by the organization that will use blockchain to improve their supply chain management.

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