Since 2023, Britvic, alongside several other food and drink manufacturers, has partnered with WRAP on its Water Stewardship Project in Southern Spain which is the largest importer of fruit to the UK.
As we all know, water is a hugely precious resource that unfortunately many of us still take for granted. We rely heavily on always being able to access the same amount of water we use today in the future.
The reality is:
- Only 2.5% of the world’s freshwater is drinkable and we have access to approximately 1% of that
- Agricultural supply chains use 70% of global freshwater and UN projections are that demand for freshwater will exceed supply by 40% in 2030
- Water availability is a heavily politicised issue and future conflicts are just as likely to be fought over water as they are oil.
Agriculture crops used to make raw materials for our business are at risk due to water scarcity. As part of our Healthier People, Healthier Planet strategy we are working with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) which aims by 2030 to have 50% of the UK's fresh produce sourced from areas with sustainable water management systems.
The collaborative action of a group of stakeholders, including Britvic, who rely on the region and have strong collective purchasing power, brings with it the ability influence, and improve practices long term.
We’re supporting WRAP’s project focuses in three main areas:
Water stewardship between local farmers
- Unsuitable irrigation systems on farms in Spain waste a lot of water, and the high use of pesticides and chemicals pollutes waterways, making indigenous ecosystems uninhabitable. Working with organisations like WRAP, Britvic can support better education for farmers on the benefits of new technology such as soil probes to help overcome this issue
Understanding and working together to improve legal water use
- Currently, 30% of farming in the region is illegal and the regulation of this from the local government is poor. Exploitation of the aquifer over many years due to commercial farming, coupled with the lack of rainfall due to climate change, now means the water levels in the aquifer have reached a record low
- UK businesses like Britvic can influence this by ensuring suppliers comply with water certifications and move away from farms that do not meet the requirements for sustainable water management
Restoring and improving water bodies and biodiversity
- Surrounding wetlands have dried out, impacting the broad biodiversity of the area and the Donana National Park especially. Local teams are focusing on restoring and enhancing streams, ecological corridors and promoting natural space and biodiversity near the farms. Encouraging the use of better fertilisation practice and biological pest management is also a key part of the project.
Matt Swindall, Chief Procurement Officer at Britvic commented “It is crucial that we engage and build plans with our suppliers on their water management systems and stewardship plans as we work to deliver against our Healthier People, Healthier Planet objectives. The work WRAP is doing in Spain is a great example of how we can start to work with suppliers and showcase best in class sustainable water practices which are necessary to protect future business growth.”
The future of food and drink supply relies heavily on companies like Britvic to act now, ensuring we will continue to provide customers with great tasting drinks, that are sustainably sourced, with careful consideration of the people we rely on across the globe.
