In an era marked by growing environmental awareness, intensifying stakeholder scrutiny, and mounting climate risks, corporate water risk management (i.e., corporate sustainability) is emerging as a foundational cornerstone of operational and financial resilience across all sectors. This includes everything from resource-intensive industries to consumer-facing businesses. Central to this change is the increasing focus on strategic management of water and wastewater, a critical operational input influenced by scarcity, regulatory pressures, and brand awareness.

This report analyzes110 companies across 11 water-intensive industries that collectively generated US$9.2 trillion in revenues in 2023. These industries—which include both heavy and light sectors such as food & beverage, power, and mining—showcase diverse water use intensities and distinct challenges and approaches leveraged globally. The analysis highlights broader differences across industries. Notably, companies that interact directly with consumers are setting the pace in reporting their water usage, with over 90% adopting water-related targets as part of their corporate strategies. In contrast, heavier industries tend to be less transparent in their reporting.

The findings uncover not only the extensive scope of corporate water use but also highlight 453 water management projects aimed at improving operational water efficiencies, promoting water reuse, and deploying varying conservation strategies (e.g., on-site management vs. third-party offsets).