LAHORE: On the World Water day (WWD), Nestlé Kabirwala factory is the third factory in Pakistan to be awarded the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) certification. Nestlé’s Sheikhupura and Islamabad Factories were already certified by the AWS in 2017 and 2018 respectively. AWS is an international standard, which guides companies and organizations on how to improve their water efficiency, not just onsite, but also offsite.
Only twenty-four sites in the world in fifteen different countries have achieved AWS certification so far. Out of twenty-four, fifteen are Nestlé’s facilities around the world including three sites located in Pakistan. Globally, Nestlé plans to have 20 factories certified by the end of 2020. The Company’s goal is to have all its sites certified by the end of 2019 in Pakistan. Nestlé Pakistan aims to be a responsible water steward by working hard to achieve the ambition for “zero impact” in its direct operations to improve water efficiency.
Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Pakistan, said, “To mark the WWD, we’re pleased to be awarded the AWS certificate for our Kabirwala Factory. Realizing the importance of collective action approach, Nestlé Pakistan introduced its‘Caring for Water’ initiative for bringing different stakeholders together to help tackle the water stress. This is also in line with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation. The AWS Standard is the perfect roadmap for us; allowing us to consolidate things under one umbrella, helping us view and tackle this issue as a whole instead of working in silos.”
Adrian Sym, CEO AWS, said: “Nestlé’s strategic commitment to implementing the AWS Standard sets an example, demonstrating the importance of water stewardship in delivering benefits for communities, nature and business. Through our global membership, we will be calling on and supporting other major businesses to follow Nestlé’s lead in making meaningful and independently verifiable contributions to our shared water challenges through implementation of the AWS Standard.”
Hammad Naqi, CEO, WWF Pakistan, said:“In a reiteration of our purpose on this World Water Day, WWF-Pakistan aims to promote environmental conservation and the efficient use of our shared resources. Through the implementation of Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard, we are helping redefine the role of private sector in advocating, supporting and promoting better basin governance for the benefit of people and nature.” News Desk
