In 2021, Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE) made significant commitments to the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, focusing on four key areas: decarbonization, biodiversity, water efficiency, and packaging circularity. Over the past three years, we have made progress on these fronts and gained valuable insights which are now driving us to expand our efforts.

Through our updated actions we are deepening our support for our members. We will focus on providing tools, guidance, and resources to help these companies take meaningful actions across sustainability areas: water management, biodiversity, decarbonisation, and circularity. We will also foster greater dialogue with stakeholders, including scientific experts, to ensure our sector leads by example in protecting natural resources and promoting a circular economy.

Commitments by aspirational objectives:

Aspirational objective 3: A climate-neutral food chain in Europe by 2050

With the following aspirational target: 

Reducing net emissions from own operations, contributing to a 55% GHG emission reduction target in the EU food chain by 2030 (following a science-based approach).

Natural Mineral Waters Europe commitments:

• Drive the sector towards net zero by 2050 in all scopes, with decarbonisation of Scopes 1 and 2 by 2040. As a priority by 2030, support members in transition to low-carbon energy.

• Strive towards full circularity for all sector’s packaging (incl. glass, PET and aluminium) by using only recyclable packaging by 2025, incorporating 50% alternative (e.g. recycled) materials in new plastic bottles by 2030 (30% by 2025) and deploying reusable packaging where it brings sustainability benefits.

Aspirational objective 6: Sustainable value creation in the European food supply chain through partnership

With the following aspirational targets:

a) Improved resilience and competitiveness of companies operating at any point along the food value chain by 2030;

b) Continued progress towards sustainable production, contributing to sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by 2030 and improved animal welfare.

Natural Mineral Waters Europe commitments:

• Drive sustainable water management in the sector, on the one hand, by promoting efficient use of water in member operations and supply chain, and, on the other hand, by promoting water stewardship as an engagement beyond factory gates. By this NMWE aims a positive impact on water balance, water quality, water-related ecosystems, extreme weather events mitigation, encompassing social, cultural, and economic value of water.

• Actively contribute to preserving and restoring biodiversity in catchments of our operations, with results reported using an accepted methodology by 2030, as part of our approach to water stewardship.

Full detail of the pledge in the provided attachment.