Private sector takes up challenge of balancing profits and responsible stewardship at 2009 World Water Week

Peter Forssman, Chair, Stockholm Water Foundation and Marv DeVries, President Trojan Technologies.

Photos, quotes and more press releases are available at www.worldwaterweek.org/media

Stockholm Industry Water Award ceremony honours 2009 winner, Trojan Technologies of Canada
Stockholm, Sweden, August 18, 2009 - Private sector leaders meeting at the World Water Week in Stockholm today addressed the rising significance of water as a strategic business concern. At a seminar convened by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) participants discussed the fundamental changes needed to balance fair profits with sustainability and responsible stewardship of water resources.

"Climate change will increase competition for water and energy resources," said Björn Stigson, president of the WBCSD. "Business is dealing with this uncertainty by getting more energy out of each drop of water and more water out of each unit of energy, but there is an urgent need for clear policies and principles for sustainable water management".

The seminar followed the ceremony honouring the 2009 Stockholm Industry Water Award winner Trojan Technologies. Based in Ontario, Canada, Trojan produces UV disinfection systems for industrial applications, municipal water and wastewater treatment, commercial integration, residential use, and elimination of environmental contaminants from wells and other sources of drinking water, including reused water. With installed systems at more than 5800 facilities in more than 80 countries, Trojan has led the worldwide drive for commercial, engineering, and regulatory acceptance of the technology as an environmentally sound alternative to traditional chlorine-based water treatment.

Throughout 2009 World Water Week, business-themed seminars are exploring issues such as corporate water footprints and the economic case for tackling water and climate issues together. In addition, the CEO Water Mandate, a UN initiative involving private sector organizations and interests, is holding an open information session and a business session in Stockholm during the Week.

"The business world is coming to a new consensus about water," said Anders Berntell, Executive Director of SIWI. "What was once just a discrete problem of corporate social responsibility for bottlers and beverage companies is now a mission-critical issue for every company, in every industry. The business leaders here at World Water Week are looking to answer hard questions because they know that being responsible stewards of water is really a matter of enlightened management."

In response to the proliferation of business initiatives around sustainable water management over the last few years, WBCSD and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) today launched a new report, "Water for Business: Initiatives Guiding Sustainable Water Management in the Private Sector." The report is a concise guide to the different guidelines, tools, measurement methodologies and communication and stewardship schemes that exist in the sector. It also includes a glossary of water terms and will be updated regularly as initiatives evolve and new ones emerge.

The report is available at www.wbcsd.org/web/water4business.pdf.

The Stockholm Industry Water Award
The Stockholm Industry Water Award honours contributions by business and industry that improve the global water situation. It recognises improved performance in production processes, new products, and management, as well as innovative approaches in water and wastewater process technologies. Established in 2000 by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the award will celebrate its 10th anniversary during the 2009 World Water Week. The award program is administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute.

The full World Water Week press kit, including thematic story development resources and expert commentators, is available at www.worldwaterweek.org/media.

Digest of Press Releases from World Water Week

2009-08-19

• How to make Climate Solidarity a reality- African and European parliamentarians meet in Stockholm 19-21 August
• International Water Association (IWA): New Agreements Address Water Safety in Latin America and Caribbean
• The Swedish River Basin District Authorities:EU agency meeting on clean water in Europe during the World Water Week- Event Programme
• USAID Launches Water Finance Resource

2009-08-18

• Turkish student wins Stockholm Junior Water Prize with innovative method of generating energy from rain
• ADB Calls for New Solutions to Help Asia Meet Growing Water, Sanitation Needs
• WWF: Water stewardship enters new phase
• Asian Development Bank: ADB Calls for New Solutions to Help Asia Meet Growing Water, Sanitation Needs
• InternationalWater Management Institute: Water Reform Urgently Needed in Asia to Feed Extra 1.5 Billion People By 2050, Says New Report. (PDF 50KB)[French PDF 42KB] [Chinese PDF 147KB] [Japanese PDF 208KB] [Spanish PDF 53KB]
• WWF and SABMiller unveil water footprint of beer
• International Water Association (IWA): Paradigm shift needed to advance water security in cities of the future

2009-08-17

• World Water Week opens with discussions on water's role in peace, economic development, and public health
  
• New SIWI Report: Getting transboundary waters right: Theory and Practice for Effective Cooperation.
  Download thePress Release / Download the Report

2009-08-16

• Advanced river flow management vital to facing climate challenge: Download the Press Release / Download the Report
• Borealis undertakes pioneering analysis of Water Footprint of plastics
• Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council: WSSCC Publishes Primer on "Public Funding for Sanitation"- Latest thinking and knowledge on sanitation financing presented