According to the Water Footprint Network, a corporate water footprint is defined as the total volume of fresh water that is used directly and indirectly to manage and support a business.
The water footprint of a company consists of two components:
The water footprint of the supply chain (indirect) which is the water used in a company's own supply chain. This is the indirect use of water.
The operational (direct) water footprint, which is the water used by a company for production or manufacturing purposes, and for support activities. This is the direct use of water.
This metric is a first step in our demands regarding the registration and publication of a water footprint as complete as possible that reflects the comprehensive impact of the service or products offered by a company throughout the value chain.