News source: GESTION newspaper

By Beatriz Merino

I was recently invited to attend the handing over of the first Blue Certificate – an innovative state program promoting the voluntary water footprint measuring of private companies. Specifically
this footprint is an indicator that defines the total amount of water used to produce goods and services. Interestingly it takes into consideration both the direct and indirect consumption in the whole productive process. Thus, namely a cup of coffee entails the utilization of 140 liters of water and making a cotton shirt 500 liters of it. That’s its water footprint.

The mentioned Certificate of the National Water Authority (ANA for its acronym in Spanish)
promotes that the companies know about the water consumption and its processes and by doing so, they commit to the necessary actions in order to reduce it. I frequently hear mentioning that it’s difficult to know how to contribute to the preservation of nature and its resources. Here is a so very tangible initiative for this. It’s simple, efficient, accurate and available.

We know the reasons why it’s so imperative to take care of the water. However, beyond saving and preserving it, this venture turns out to be particularly valuable for the commitment that involves these companies assignment with the sustainable management of the resources, and that is remarkable.

Within the complex reality as it is ours (Lima is a desert) for the water resources management and in a complex scenario after El Niño, it’s rewarding to spot how some initiatives are emerging, which for their simplicity and scalability call up several sectors of the society and have them come together, such as: the state, the private sector, and the international cooperation.

This program that is supported by the 2030 Water Resources Group’s Board of Directors in Peru aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, to the OCDE’s water governance, but above all, it shares the government vision to count on safe water and to achieve a water and sanitation supply for all the Peruvians towards year 2021.

We already have one first company with the Blue Certificate in hand, and eight on their way to get
it. From here, I encourage other companies to get involved and to participate. It’s good to recall
Antoine de Saint Exupéry: “the essential is invisible to the eye”.