Lauren Enright
The WAVE Program: A path to Water and Climate Resiliency
The availability of clean freshwater is critical to business operations and profitability in nearly every industry, ranging from food and beverage, chemical and personal care to general manufacturing, parts suppliers, hospitality and more.
WAVE is a comprehensive 2-part program established by The Water Council that helps organizations of all sizes accelerate their water actions in a strategic, clear, and credible way to prepare for external reporting. As an enterprise-level verification, WAVE enables companies to demonstrate that they are contributing to a more water-resilient supply chain.
Two-Part Approach to Water Stewardship
WAVE: Assess provides a step-by-step methodology for companies to understand their water uses, impacts, and risks through prioritization of sites where water-related risks can be mitigated. This program builds internal capacity for water stewardship and helps companies communicate their corporate action plan, goals, and timeline.
WAVE: Action provides a step-by-step methodology for organizations to act strategically by setting targets and identifying opportunities to collaborate on addressing shared challenges and opportunities. The program provides organizations with internal capacity-building for water stewardship, a proven methodology for ensuring credible water stewardship action and non-technical implementation support from The Water Council’s (TWC).
Both programs conclude with independent verification by SCS Global Services, ensuring legitimacy that the processes organizations implement are actually mitigating water-related risks and addressing water challenges and opportunities. This verification allows companies to credibly demonstrate meaningful enterprise-wide water stewardship outcomes to external stakeholders and investors.
Why Choose SCS?
Companies choose to leverage SCS’ water stewardship expertise to help navigate their water sustainability journey. As a leader for 40 years in sustainability standards, third-party verification and certification, SCS has helped thousands of companies demonstrate their sustainability efforts that contribute to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Methodology
- Benefits
- FAQs
- Program Documents
What is the methodology?
- Understand water uses, impacts & risks
- Approve a corporate water stewardship policy
- Prioritize sites where water-related risks can be mitigated
- Communicate corporate action plan, goals & timeline
Credit: The Water Council
Why participate in the WAVE program?
- Advance your efforts to a more holistic water stewardship approach
- Ensure your organization better understands and prioritizes its water challenges and risks
- Confidently communicate your corporate water stewardship in external reporting
- Use the WAVE program mark to promote your achievements
- Assure investors, customers and stakeholders that your processes are credibly verified
Why work with SCS?
SCS has completed design, implementation, and certification of water stewardship projects for the food and beverage industry, agriculture and manufacturing. We have certified over 30% of the AWS water stewardship sites globally. By choosing SCS as your responsible water partner you will benefit from:
- The most experienced team from planning through implementation
- Customized services for every step of the water stewardship journey: consultation, technical advisory, pre-assessment, gap analysis, and verification
- Multilingual training and specialized webinars tailored for your company’s needs
Why is ESG important?
Growing concerns over how climate change, environmental degradation, resource depletion, and threats to supply-chain resilience affect corporate brand value have compelled investors, asset managers, and ratings agencies to reward more strategic corporate performance on a range of sustainability issues, including water.
Why make a commitment to an ESG based water stewardship program like WAVE?
The growing ESG reporting movement has pressured companies to move well beyond non-substantive glossy reports as investors and other key stakeholders increasingly expect companies to make measurable progress on environmental priorities.
Is independent verification of the WAVE program required?
Yes. Upon successful completion of the WAVE program, all participants will be independently verified by SCS Global Services. This provides credibility to investors and with the public.
Does this program only serve large public companies or can it assist small to medium private businesses?
While not always immediately evident, water is a critical resource for nearly every business in every industry. From food and beverage, chemical and personal care, to general manufacturing, parts suppliers, hospitality and more; the availability of clean freshwater is critical to a business’ operations and profitability.
How can I demonstrate our company’s successful verification of the WAVE program?
The client will receive an official certificate, logo, and WAVE Verified claims language. SCS provides marketing support to publicize your achievement. Once verified our marketing team can also provide additional services to develop a strategy that incorporates your goals, considering your current tactics to optimize them for success. We work to identify and execute opportunities that will bring more awareness to your certifications.
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Lauren Enright
SCS Certified Clients
Learn more about the clients we certify and where to find products with this certification.
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