Diversey – the leading global hygiene and cleaning company – has released a New Trend Report: Water and Wastewater Treatment in the Food and Beverage Industry. The report is a recognition of the rapidly changing water landscape and the need for an urgent realignment of water treatment in a time of global water crisis.
A Complex Relationship With An Increasingly Precious Commodity
Water is a vital resource and an increasingly precious commodity, subject to unprecedented pressures from population growth, climate change, conflict, and ongoing economic instability. Taking this context, Diversey explores the F&B industry’s complex relationship with water, reaffirming the essential role it has in all operational aspects of Food Production, Beverage and Brewing, Dairy, Dairy Farming and Life Sciences from its position of acknowledged global expertise in these sectors.
Water is fundamental to achieving sustainability, environmental, and ESG goals, in addition to maintaining consumer safety and brand reputation. The report points the way forward for the F&B industry as an uncertain future.
An Urgent Ecological and Economic Priority
As old certainties concerning water usage are being disrupted, new trends are evolving. A reassessment is taking place as the new realities dramatically sharpen attitudes in approaches to water treatment.
As global water scarcity intensifies, optimizing water consumption, water recycling, reuse and treatment is becoming identified as one of the most effective ways of protecting this threatened resource, and an urgent ecological and economic priority.
There is a price to pay for companies that fail to do so. The economic risk through inefficient operations and increasing wastewater costs, is matched by the risk to their reputation. A company’s water treatment policy is becoming a key differential influencing investment, consumer choice and market success, with decisions being driven by evidence of sustainability and environmental responsibility.
An Innovative Turning Point In The Approach To Wastewater?
The report’s release comes as the United Nations ushers in an era of innovation and rethinking related to how we use, value, and manage water. Its view is that investment in innovation and a stress on existing good practices are key to achieving significant change – reaching goals quicker and at scale. What Diversey make clear, is that if water management is viewed in isolation, or involves a one-size-fits-all solution, the results are unlikely to be effective or efficient.
Many current water treatment systems are based on the premise of a constant supply. These are ill equipped for the water scarce world on the horizon, requiring companies to look forward and assess their needs with urgency.
Water Resilience Is A Matter Of Choice
The challenge is in balancing a range of demands in harnessing innovative developments in wastewater treatment to significantly contribute towards sustainability goals, reduce total cost of ownership and maintain profitability, without compromising brand reputation.
Illuminating the true cost of water in the F&B industry, Diversey detail the benefits of a systematic approach. Through highlighting current challenges, including the growing regulatory burden and emerging trends in wastewater treatment, the report reveals what’s required to build a resilient, water efficient business. An all-encompassing approach based on collaborative analysis and broad expertise, that works toward a clear and consistent strategy – recognising both complexity and disruption – is crucial. Which makes the choice of water treatment supplier particularly important if these goals are to be achieved.
Ruud Verheul – Global President Diversey Food and Beverage, Diversey – takes up the theme of the new report: “We have reached a turning point. The challenges are considerable, but to advocate going on as before would be to accept survival as the highest goal. Finding new ways to reduce water consumption is our shared responsibility. Innovation is only part of the solution, as we must also change intrinsic behaviours and drive good governance. A strategy that integrates hygiene and water management is more likely to identify hidden opportunities to make savings and create additional value. Enhancing safety, efficiency and sustainability can ultimately be more rewarding for profitability in the long-term and help build the resilient businesses we will need to succeed in an uncertain future.”
