Climate & Environment
Water Positive
Definition
Water positive describes a goal in which an organisation's contributions to water availability — through replenishment, restoration and stewardship projects — exceed its operational water consumption, particularly in water-stressed regions. Claims are typically time- and geography-bound and rely on volumetric accounting.
References
Source imported for editorial provenance.
This reference provides supporting context for how “Water Positive” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
Companies set basin-specific replenishment targets and report progress in sustainability disclosures; the Water Resilience Coalition coordinates collective action; third parties verify replenishment volumes; critics stress that consumption reduction must precede compensation.
Why it matters
Water positive framing pushes corporate water strategy beyond efficiency toward basin-level outcomes, though claim credibility depends on transparent, context-based accounting.