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New Water Metrics Guidance by Suppliers Partnership for the Environment

The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) has recently unveiled a significant guidance document titled Core Water Metrics for Automotive Operations. This initiative seeks to reshape how the automotive industry approaches water-related reporting and stewardship. Given the ongoing global emphasis on sustainability, this guidance represents a concerted effort among automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to adopt responsible water usage practices.

Overview of Core Water Metrics Guidance

Launched on September 11, 2025, this new guidance aims to provide a unified framework for water-related metrics that can be used across the automotive sector. By outlining recommended metrics and standardized definitions, SP strives to foster consistency in how automotive companies report and manage their water usage. This new document is a culmination of collaborative work within SP's Water Stewardship Work Group, which included contributions from various global automotive manufacturers and suppliers.

Commitment to Water Stewardship

Kellen Mahoney, Executive Director of SP, emphasized, "This new guidance reflects our members' shared commitment to responsible water use and improving tracking and voluntary reporting of water-related information." The core objective behind these metrics is to support companies in meeting the growing expectations of stakeholders regarding transparency in water management.

In 2024, SP partnered with experts from The Water Council to conduct a landscape analysis focusing on water metrics from fifteen different sustainability reporting frameworks. This analysis illuminated critical metrics that automotive organizations should prioritize. It ensures that the guidance provided is both relevant and actionable.

Building on Existing Frameworks

The new guidance is not SP’s first endeavor in the realm of water stewardship. It complements previous initiatives such as the Water Stewardship Strategy Framework and the Water Stewardship Action Matrix, both of which provide foundational support for companies aiming to enhance their water management practices. Additionally, many components of the new guidance resonate with SP’s established Automotive Climate Action Questionnaire Framework, which industry leaders utilize to discuss environmental performance expectations with their suppliers.

Driving Consistency in Reporting

In an era where water stewardship is becoming increasingly crucial, harmonizing the language around water-related data is more important than ever. Timothy Buisch, Global Water Lead at Ford Motor Company, noted, "This guidance can help reduce reporting confusion and provide a clearer picture of how we're collectively managing water risks and opportunities across the supply chain."

The documentation not only aims at improving internal reporting processes but also at enhancing communication between companies and their stakeholders regarding environmental impacts related to water use.

Free Access to Guidance Document

As part of their commitment to support a wide range of companies, the guidance document is available free of charge. This access ensures that all organizations, regardless of their size or stage in their water stewardship journey, benefit from the insights detailed within it.

To access the full Core Water Metrics for Automotive Suppliers document, interested parties can download it from the SP website: Suppliers Partnership.

Conclusion

The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment's initiative to create a standardized approach to water metrics is a vital step towards fostering environmental responsibility within the automotive industry. As the global conversation around sustainability continues to evolve, the emphasis on effective water stewardship will only grow stronger. With clear guidelines and robust metrics, automotive manufacturers and their suppliers are better equipped to navigate the complex landscape of water management, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future for the industry.