NO RAINCHECK ON WORLD WATER DAY

All 224 pages of Nestlé’s latest annual reports thudded on to my desk last Friday. Since today is World Water Day, I thought I should check how Nestlé is doing on water. Proven buoyancy

• I was most impressed by its 33% reduction in water usage since 2000 despite a 63% increase in production volume. That’s an eye watering 59% drop in the amount withdrawn per tonne of product in nine years.
• No wonder Nestlé was ranked in the top three food and drink companies worldwide for sustainability last week.
• I also noted that Nestlé Pure Life is now the biggest water brand in the world, achieving 14% organic growth in 2009.

Bubbling under There were good examples of environmental initiatives making a big impact in particular countries:

• 60,000 fewer truck loads saving 12 million litres of fuel in France and Belgium by using trains instead;
• 356,000 million tonnes of emissions avoided by a new Eco-Shape water bottle in the United States (though I rather think the word million was left in by mistake).

Below the surface More disappointingly:

• Water had the lowest performance of any Nestlé division in terms of both growth and margin.
• While I appreciated much of the information provided and its presentation, I would also have welcomed more on the lightweighting and recycling of packaging.

Fortunately, I don’t see Nestlé taking a raincheck in dealing with water issues. Nor shall I.