11.4.1 Background information on the research project

To obtain tangible information on the water use and best practices by 20 listed Dutch companies, their public disclosures were analysed in the course of a 'quick scan research project.' The results are summarised in this section and an overview is included in Annex 11.1 in fine.

The selected companies operate in various business sectors, ranging from oil and gas industry suppliers and producers (e.g. Shell), supermarkets (Ahold), breweries (Heineken) to human resources services (Randstad). Most of them are ' world leading companies' that by the size of their operations and revenues can have significant impacts on economic, natural and human resources.

The research addressed the types of water use per company, thereby collecting information on the different pressures exercised by companies on water resources. The focus was on five categories of water use: (1) domestic use; (2) groundwater use; (3) industrial use (e.g. raw materials, manufactured products, cooling system); (4) emissions into water (the discharge of waste-water); and (5) consumer use (i.e. the volume of water needed when using the products).

Additionally, three elements were added to the research: (6) has a dialogue on environmental policies/sustainable water policies been established at the supply chain level? (7) have tangible targets been set to reduce water use or emissions into water? and (8) does the company participate in programmes aimed at contributing to MDG 7 on safe drinking water?