The Pure Water Impact Goal centers around how companies manage their water use and consumption when making products, specifically on how they avoid contamination and toxic waste. Being mindful of the communities where companies operate is also a significant part of this goal, including members' access to clean water.
When scoring a company on the Pure Water impact goal, the following underlying Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) factors are considered:
- Waste & Hazardous Material Management: Environmental issues associated with hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by companies. Specifically, management of solid waste in the manufacturing of agriculture and other land processes. Covers treatment, handling, storage and disposal, and regulatory compliance.
- Water & Wastewater Management: A company’s water use, water consumption, and impact of operations on water resources influenced by regional differences in availability and quality of water. Includes management of water efficiency, intensity, and recycling. Also addresses the management of wastewater treatment and discharge, including groundwater and recycling.
- Ecological Impacts: The management of impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity through activities relating to land use such as exploration, extraction of natural resources, cultivation, construction and their consequences, including biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and deforestation at all stages such as planning, land acquisition, permits, development, etc.
- Human Rights & Community Relations: The management of relationships between businesses and the communities in which they operate, and impact on human rights and treatment of indigenous peoples. May cover socioeconomic community impacts, environmental justice, cultivation of local workforces, impacts on local businesses, license to operate, and E/S assessments.
The SASB is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 to help businesses and investors develop a common language about the financial impacts of sustainability. To learn more, see https://www.sasb.org/about/
To learn more about the Impact Scoring methodology, see How are Impact scores calculated?