Water intensity indicators in the global retail sector

Abstract

Retail water use accounts for up to 19% of public water globally supplied. However, the water intensity of retail stores and its drivers remains largely unexplored. This study is the first of its kind to provide water intensity indicators for retail buildings, namely Water Intensity per store Area (WIA), Water Intensity per Store (WIS), Water Intensity per Worker (WIW) and Water Intensity per Revenue (WIR), providing metrics for better water management in the retail sector. The water intensity of the world's highest revenue retailers was assessed through data published online in their sustainability reports. A statistical analysis on location, store size, number of workers and revenue was also performed to evaluate the influence of these variables in water intensity indicators. Results confirm that the number of workers, location, store size, and sales revenue statistically influence some of the four water intensity indicators analysed. These results contribute to assist retailers in setting best practice water consumption reference levels and to better understanding water variability, thus offering tools for improved sustainability and water efficiency across the retail sector.