Introduction of a feasible performance indicator for corporate water accounting – a case study on the cotton textile chain

Due to a growing public interest in increasing water consumption and associated water scarcity, many methods and indicators for measuring and assessing freshwater usage have evolved. However, what is still missing is a low-effort approach for corporate water accounting along entire supply chains that provides valuable decision-making aid for companies seeking to improve sustainable water management along their value chain. This paper introduces a new method for corporate water accounting, the Regionalized Cumulative Water Intensity (RCWI), and investigates its practical applicability through a case study in the cotton textile chain. The results of this case study show that the concept is suitable for assessing and comparing the water performance of different suppliers and supplier combinations whereby not only environmental and economic but also social aspects can be considered. Moreover, the indirect responsibility that a company bears for the water use of its suppliers is reflected in its own water performance results. Through purchasing less, more or other pre-products as well as through deliberate supplier selection a company has a non-negligible influence on this.