We all have a role to play in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere by 2030. Businesses can and must be part of the solution. Join WASH4Work by committing to action to expand access to WASH in the workplace, in communities and across supply chains.
Improving access to WASH is a key component to building a more sustainable future, one where people, planet and the economy thrive. The private sector creates 9 out of 10 jobs in developing countries, so businesses are in a unique position to impact billions of people every day, including those who work in their factories, farms, stores and offices.
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Signing the World Business Council on Sustainable Development’s WASH in the Workplace Self-Assessment Tool
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Implementing the International Labour Organization’s WASH@Work: A Self-Training Handbook
Resources
- How to Conduct a WASH Accessibility and Safety Audit
- Managing Menstruation in the Workplace: An Overlooked Issue in Low and Middle Income Countries
Business Case and General Guidance
- Strengthening the Business Case for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene – How to Measure Value for Your Business
- Guidance for Companies on Respecting the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation
- Realizing the human rights to water and sanitation
Case Studies
Businesses are integral parts of their communities. Their activities impact local water resources and water and sanitation systems. By improving water efficiency, managing pollutants, and treating wastewater as part of part of a broader water stewardship framework, businesses can contribute to better WASH outcomes for communities. Supporting greater access to WASH in the communities where they operate, and where their workers live, improves lives and livelihoods.
- Mitigating the negative impacts on community WASH.
- Supporting and advocating for change nationally and internationally, helping policy makers and political leaders see the benefits to greater WASH access for their people and sustainable development.
- Implement innovative practices to ensure greater access to WASH in communities, working in partnership with other organizations, governments, and/or companies.
Examples of company action
- Water Loss Reduction in Zamdela – “Metsimaholo Water Loss Reduction Project”
- Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN)
- The Tata Water Mission
- Hygiene Matters Research Initiative
- Unilever: saving lives through promotion of handwashing, sanitation and access to clean, safe water
- Newmont Global Water Strategy – Managing local impacts on communities
Implementing WASH in community tools
The social, moral and macro-economic case for investment in WASH is clear. Some companies are already taking action to improve WASH. However, to drive the transformational change required to meet the 2030 goal, more companies need to invest directly in WASH programmes and to leverage their influence across their extensive supply chains to persuade suppliers to act.
- Collaborating with and mentoring, supply chain companies to help them expand access to WASH in their workplaces.
- Benefit from the examples of W4W partners Gap, Inc. and Diageo.
Case studies
- Implementation of WASH for Workers and Communities – Case Studies
- Improving Smallholder Farmers (SHF) Nutrition
- A Baseline Study of Living Conditions of Garment Workers in Hlaing Thar Yar (Myanmar)
- Corporate Action on WASH in Supply Chains Case Study: Gap Inc.
- H&M – Human Right to Water and Sanitation
- WASH for Tea Garden Workers
- Workers’ Need Project in India
Supply-chain-focused initiatives
- Better Work Initiative
- Child Rights and Global Supply Chains
- HERProject: Investing in Women for a Better World