Water consumption – The situation today

Water is a limited natural resource. Human activity and natural life are also dependent on water and preserving them is essential.

Water is vital to life. Because it is indispensable to human activity, from farming and industry to the domestic sphere (potable water supply), as well as the functioning of the Earth's ecosystems, water management is set to become one of the major concerns of the 21st century. The decisions that are necessary for the management of water resources and the preservation of water quality must take into account not only variations in demand but also the current and changing water supply, in order to harness needs to resources. For all these reasons and their many repercussions, water is called "blue gold".

Although water is very much present across the globe, 97% is saltwater and 2% takes the form of ice, which leaves only about 1% as liquid freshwater.

Distribution of water across the globe

Several steps in drug production necessitate the use of natural resources such as water. The responsible management of water consumption is therefore an issue of major importance for the Group.