A science-based method for measuring your organisation's impact on freshwater resources — for reporting, risk management, and improvement.
ISO 14046 specifies principles, requirements, and guidelines for water footprint assessment — quantifying the water-related impacts of products, processes, and organisations. It is relevant for any organisation where water use is material to its environmental performance or stakeholder expectations.
Book a Gap AssessmentThe scope of ISO 14046:2014
- Goal and scope definitionDefine the boundaries and objectives of your water footprint assessment — what processes, products, or organisational units are included and why.
- Life cycle inventory analysisSystematically quantify all water flows — withdrawals, consumption, and discharge — across the defined scope using life cycle assessment methods.
- Water footprint impact assessmentAssess the environmental relevance of water use considering the local water scarcity context — not all water use has the same impact.
- Interpretation and reportingInterpret results in context, identify opportunities for water footprint reduction, and communicate findings in a credible, consistent format.
The business case
In water-scarce regions like the GCC, water risk is a real operational and financial threat. A water footprint assessment identifies and quantifies it.
Water footprint data is increasingly required in ESG reports, sustainability disclosures, and supply chain sustainability assessments from major buyers.
A systematic water footprint assessment reveals where water is consumed, where it can be reduced, and where reduction would have the greatest impact.
For product manufacturers, understanding the water footprint of products and ingredients informs design choices that reduce water impact across the supply chain.
The certification journey
Most firms hand you a document pack and leave. We stay with you from gap assessment through certification — and beyond.
We audit your current operations against the standard's requirements and show you exactly where you stand.
We build your management system — policies, procedures, process maps — tailored to how your business actually works.
We work alongside your team on the ground to embed the system into daily operations and train your people to own it.
We run a full internal audit cycle, close any gaps, and make sure you're ready before the certification body arrives.
We support you through the certification audit — and stay available for surveillance prep and continuous improvement after.
Ready to get certified?
Book a gap assessment and we'll show you exactly what it takes.
Book a Gap Assessment