Sustainable Water Management
Globally, the demand for water is rising. Being more efficient with the natural resources we use is good for the environment and our business. We aim to reduce our overall water consumption by using water more efficiently across our operations.
The natural environment plays a critical role in sustaining life and supporting the production of our food system. Our Natural Resource Stewardship Strategy prioritises driving a positive impact across water, biodiversity and soil. The natural environment is complex and interconnected and making progress in these areas helps us also deliver our broader carbon and climate change programme.
Agricultural supply chains use the vast majority of global freshwater resources. Poor management practices can lead to pollution and water scarcity in already water stressed areas. As a signatory of the WRAP Courtauld 2030 Roadmap, we are working to deliver the 2030 commitment to source 50% of the UK’s fresh food from areas with sustainable water management. By integrating this commitment into our supply chains, we are taking action in the highest water risk and impact area of our business.
Our Nature Strategy
We’re adopting both landscape-level and local approaches to our Nature Strategy, recognising the interconnectedness of water, biodiversity, and soil health. By focusing on the unique needs of entire landscapes and the collective action of individual farms within them, we can restore natural processes and improve ecosystem resilience. We’re working with suppliers to identify key action areas and create clear plans. This includes trialling tools for agricultural biodiversity and expanding water stewardship projects.
Globally, we support this through funding WRAP-led collective action projects in Southern Spain and South Africa, which focus on restoring natural processes and improving long-term sustainability in key sourcing areas
Landscape-level Action in the Supply Chain
WRAP South Africa: Restoring Rivers, Strengthening Resilience
Through WRAP’s South African Collective Action Project, WWF South Africa is leading vital restoration work in the Western Cape’s priority catchments. In 2024, 150 hectares of invasive, water-thirsty trees were cleared and replaced with 20,000 indigenous plants—creating 75 river restoration jobs. This work boosts water security, supports sustainable farming, and protects communities from flooding, while helping build a more climate-resilient supply chain for fresh produce.
WRAP Southern Spain: Safeguarding Water, Sustaining Harvests
Every year, the UK imports over one million tonnes of fruit and vegetables from Southern Spain — and a third of Asda’s fresh produce comes from this vital region. But Southern Spain is facing a serious challenge: water scarcity. Agriculture consumes up to 80% of the region’s water, putting immense pressure on fragile ecosystems and threatening long-term food security.
That’s why Asda has joined forces with WRAP and a cross-industry coalition to launch the Water Stewardship in South Spain project — a bold, three-year initiative focused on protecting water resources in Andalusia, Murcia, and Valencia.
Together, we’re taking action through:
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Catchment-level water management to improve water availability and resilience
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Nature-based solutions that restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity
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Farmer engagement and knowledge sharing to promote sustainable practices
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Collaboration with certification bodies to raise standards
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Joint advocacy to strengthen water governance
This is more than a sustainability project — it’s a shared responsibility to protect the future of farming, food, and the environment.
Image credit: WRAP. Map showing the hottest areas in Southern Spain. Purple boxes: sourcing areas, Dark blue areas: represent higher levels of heat.
Sources: United Kingdom Food Security Report 2021: Theme 2: UK Food Supply Sources – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Water Stewardship in Southern Spain: Live project | WRAP.
Mapping Water Risks in the UK Supply Chain
We’re working with UK suppliers to identify priority landscapes where we can improve water use, biodiversity, and soil health. Using WWF’s Sustainable Water Metric Mapping Tool, we’ve mapped parts of our supply chain to pinpoint areas for action. This helps us collaborate with farms, suppliers, charities, water companies, and government bodies to drive meaningful change at scale.
Operational Water
Smarter Water Use for a Sustainable Future
We’re committed to making every drop count. Our approach to water management is all about efficiency, innovation, and accountability.
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Fixing the Leaks: We’ve tackled the basics by identifying and repairing leaks across our sites, ensuring our infrastructure is watertight and efficient.
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Smart Monitoring: With cutting-edge technology, we track our water usage every 30 minutes. This real-time data allows us to spot unusual spikes and act fast—minimising waste and maximising awareness.
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Innovative Solutions: Across our depots, we’ve installed rainwater harvesting systems to capture and reuse natural rainfall. In our stores and offices, waterless urinals and low-flow taps are helping us significantly reduce consumption.
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Continuous Improvement: Every increase in water use triggers an investigation. We don’t just monitor—we act.
Together, these efforts are helping us reduce our environmental footprint and lead the way in responsible water stewardship.