SODECA has taken another step in its commitment to sustainability and the responsible management of natural resources. In collaboration with an external specialized entity, the company has calculated its water footprint, which involves a life cycle analysis that assesses the potential environmental impacts related to water generated by a product, process, or organization.

With this calculation, the company has prepared a report based on the ISO 14046 standard. The report not only analyzes SODECA’s direct water consumption and environmental impact but also includes the indirect footprint, considering the volume of water consumed by suppliers and collaborators throughout the production and supply chain.

Thanks to this innovative assessment, SODECA can identify the main areas of water consumption and implement more efficient and sustainable measures for the use of this resource. In this way, the water footprint calculation reinforces the company’s efforts in sustainability and resource optimization, while also providing new insights into SODECA’s water consumption that were not possible to obtain with traditional indicators.

“The report not only analyzes SODECA’s direct water consumption and environmental impact but also includes the indirect footprint”

Concrete actions

Among the sustainability efforts mentioned by SODECA, specific actions related to water use include raising awareness among staff and continuous improvement of production processes. In this way, the company fosters awareness about the importance of sustainable water management, both within the organization and with its suppliers and collaborators, encouraging responsible consumption from all parties involved in SODECA’s production activities, and thus linked to the indirect water footprint.

Regarding the improvement of production processes, these play a key role in reducing the direct water footprint. For this reason, the company is working to optimize the manufacturing of its ventilation equipment at SODECA plants, with continuous environmental improvement processes. In the case of efficient water use, this is reflected in the adoption of innovative water consumption and treatment technologies.

These actions, which the water footprint calculation will help expand and strengthen, reflect the company’s commitment to improving its environmental performance. This commitment is also evident in other significant achievements, such as a 36% reduction in its carbon footprint since 2015 and the implementation of an Environmental Management System at SODECA’s main plant in Ripoll, certified under the ISO 14001 standard. Thus, the water footprint calculation becomes another pillar in the company’s environmental strategy, establishing it as a leader in sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Contribution to achieving the SDGs

Furthermore, just like the reduction of the carbon footprint, the calculation of the water footprint, along with the actions SODECA has implemented and will continue to implement to reduce it, also contributes to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. In this case, the measures adopted to reduce this environmental footprint align with several targets from three of the nine SDGs promoted by SODECA.

Firstly, these measures contribute to Goal 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, ensuring equitable access to this vital resource. In this context, one of the key actions is proper wastewater management. At SODECA, the fact that all wastewater is sent to water treatment plants is particularly significant. This is important because, by treating wastewater appropriately, water source contamination is reduced, thereby protecting the environment and ensuring the quality and preservation of water resources. Treating these waters not only helps reduce the environmental impact but also contributes to the sustainability of the water cycle.

This is also directly related to Goal 12, which promotes responsible production and consumption. This goal is supported by SODECA’s encouragement of efficient water use and natural resource conservation, aiming to reduce waste throughout the production chain. The water footprint calculation is essential for measuring this waste and taking appropriate action. Finally, regarding Goal 13, focused on combating climate change, proper water management helps mitigate the environmental impacts related to water scarcity and overexploitation. In this way, by optimizing water use, SODECA not only promotes sustainable practices but also contributes to resilience against climate change, which is one of the main aspects outlined in this Sustainable Development Goal.

However, the calculation of the water footprint and all the measures implemented for its reduction are just one of SODECA’s short, medium, and long-term commitments to sustainability, reaffirming the company’s dedication to actively contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. This innovative evaluation also demonstrates the seriousness and rigor with which the company works to improve its environmental indicators, applying an innovative and pioneering methodology in water management, such as the international ISO 14046 standard for water footprint.

Additionally, SODECA maintains complete transparency in this area, regularly sharing its progress on the water footprint. This enables the company to be accountable to its customers, employees, and other stakeholders, ensuring that sustainability efforts are visible and understandable to all.