This week, GWC member Ford Motor Company released its annual Sustainability Report, in which the company details its efforts to maintain best in class operations in the areas of water, climate change, supply chain management, vehicle safety and long term company health.  In 2010, Ford identified water as a top sustainability concern, reduced water use per vehicle by 8.5 percent and began to define their corporate water strategy. 

Our water strategy actions aim to meet a number of objectives. These include:

• Minimizing global water consumption at Ford facilities while maximizing reuse
• Finding ways to use alternative, lower-quality water sources
• Prioritizing our investments based on local water scarcity and cost concerns
• Meeting either local quality standards or Ford global standards for wastewater discharge – whichever is more stringent
• Ensuring a stable water supply for our manufacturing facilities while working with local communities to minimize our impact

GWC is excited to work together with Ford to plan for a sustainable water future and identify areas where Ford can help protect the health of its workforce and local communities.

In this year’s report, GWC CEO Monica Ellis gave her perspective on Ford’s efforts:

I applaud Ford’s recognition of water as an issue material to its business. It’s a very powerful thing when companies understand their environmental footprints and choose to leverage this understanding for the greater good. When a company like Ford takes this step, that gets the attention of competitor companies and stimulates momentum. It is this momentum that provides perhaps the best hope for solving the global water crisis.

To read Ms. Ellis’ full statement, click here.  To learn more, see Ford’s perspective on water and the company’s overall Blueprint for Sustainability.