Industry leaders from firms such as Unilever, Haleon, Diageo, Edeka and Samsung Electronics have welcomed the launch of Version 3.0 of the Alliance for Water Stewardship’s International Water Stewardship Standard, which sets out an updated framework for how companies can manage water risks across their operations and supply chains.
The revised standard was launched at Suntory World Headquarters in Tokyo, ahead of UN World Water Day (22 March), and comes at a time when water-related risks are becoming more visible across a range of industries.
As Adrian Sym, chief executive of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), noted, water has now become a board-level discussion topic, as water-related shocks are “already disrupting supply chains and undermining business continuity”.
Here’s how industry leaders greeted the launch of the Version 3.0 standard.
Lourens Meijer, global water stewardship lead, Unilever
“Water sits at the heart of our business, our communities, and the ecosystems we rely on. The AWS Standard Version 3.0 strengthens the global benchmark for credible water stewardship, and its clearer focus on resilience, ecosystems, and collective action supports Unilever’s ambition to deliver consistent, high‑quality outcomes for people, nature, in the many watersheds where we operate.”
Scott Oram, global water lead, sustainability team, Haleon
“Water is vital resource that is essential to everything we do – we are dependent on it, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing and how consumers use our products. We recognise that working towards good water stewardship and resilient local water systems supports good health, and the safe, reliable access to clean water underpins effective self-care.
“By certifying to the AWS Standard, we’re going beyond compliance to true water stewardship. This means using local catchment insights and working with partners to reduce our footprint and strengthen resilience in water-stressed regions. From our manufacturing sites to our wider value chain, we’re committed to managing water responsibly and equitably, so that people everywhere can look after their everyday health.”
Michael Alexander, global head of environment, Diageo
“We welcome AWS Standard Version 3.0. By strengthening the impact of water stewardship, it better aligns with our climate resilience and water strategy, which is closely aligned with our business priorities. With AWS-certified sites in Scotland and India, we value the greater clarity and scalability in Version 3.0. It will help us drive consistent, high-quality water stewardship across very different operating environments.”
Stephanie Finkbeiner, head of sustainability/CSR, Edeka
“Water‑related risks in agricultural supply chains originate at the catchment level and can only be effectively addressed through active stakeholder engagement. The AWS Standard 3.0 reinforces this approach by placing local collaboration, clear governance structures, and measurable impact at its core. As a long‑standing member of the Alliance for Water Stewardship, we explicitly welcome this advancement.”
Siân Chapman, global head of corporate affairs & sustainability, Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages
“As one of the earliest adopters of the AWS Standard, we’ve witnessed first-hand how it has evolved to elevate water stewardship around the world. Having now achieved our commitment to certify all Nestlé Waters bottling sites, we know the real challenge is making credible water stewardship accessible and actionable for a wider range of users without compromising rigour.
“That’s why we’re excited about AWS Standard 3.0 – its more pragmatic, streamlined approach will help drive broader adoption and, ultimately, greater impact where it matters most.”
Emilio Tenuta, SVP and chief sustainability officer, Ecolab
“AWS Version 3.0 represents a positive step forward for water stewardship. Its clearer structure and sharper expectations help translate ambition into action, especially at the catchment level. From our initial review, the standard aligns closely with how we already approach water stewardship at Ecolab – grounded in engagement, transparency, and disciplined execution.”
Junhwa Lee, EVP and head of global EHS office, device experience (DX) division, Samsung Electronics
“Samsung Electronics welcomes the launch of the enhanced AWS Standard V3.0, which will help strengthen our long‑standing commitment to credible water stewardship. Building on our continued attainment of AWS Platinum certification – the highest level of standard – we look forward to advancing purposeful, impact‑driven action on water conservation and biodiversity, working in collaboration with local communities.”
The development of AWS Standard 3.0 follows a multi-year consultation process involving more than 100 organisations. The revised Standard 3.0 was adopted by AWS Members in December 2025. Certification to the AWS Standard 3.0 is carried out by independent third party auditors. Read more here.
