Responsible Water Stewardship in our Supply Chains

We recognise the critical role water plays in our operations, supply chains, and the communities we serve. We understand that responsible water management is not just an environmental imperative, but also essential for the long-term sustainability of our business and the livelihoods of those who contribute to it.
 

We are proud signatories of the WRAP UK Food and Drink Pact Water Roadmap and are committed to delivering the target that 50% of the UK’s fresh food is sourced from areas of sustainable water management by 2030. We understand that addressing water challenges requires collective action. That's why we fund and participate in multi-year water projects in key sourcing regions, working with WRAP, WWF, The Rivers Trust, other food and drink organisations and local partners, to improve water quality, availability and resilience. 

Norfolk and the Cam and Ely Ouse - delivered in partnership with Norfolk Rivers Trust. These catchments are sourcing areas for pig and poultry production, potatoes, vegetable & salad crops as well as cereals (wheat, barley, and oats), oil seeds and sugar beet. This project includes using targeted farm support to deliver practical on-farm measures that improve water retention, reduce runoff, protect soils, enhance biodiversity and improve the resilience of the surrounding water environment.

Medway (Kent) - the Medway region is a major sourcing area for fresh produce, particularly soft fruit, top and stone fruit. The South East Rivers Trust, are developing a series of demonstration sites across the Medway to test, develop and showcase best practice in holistic water management measures such as rainwater harvesting/storage for irrigation resilience and nature-based solutions – such as floral plots, wetlands and tree planting to reduce runoff impacts.

To actively mitigate water-related vulnerabilities within our global fresh produce supply chain, we use the WWF Water Risk Filter. This tool allows us to identify areas facing water scarcity and enables us to fund collective action projects in our most material sourcing regions. 
 

Southern Spain - this project led by Good Stuff International addresses water scarcity and quality issues crucial for our fruit and vegetable imports. It involves collaboration to improve water governance, understand risks, support stewardship, strengthen certification, and advocate for better practices, initially focusing on Doñana and Murcia. 
 

South Africa - South Africa is a major production area for the fruit that Waitrose sells including citrus, grapes, apples and stone fruits. The project, led by WWF South Africa, focuses on mitigating climate-related risks in these key fruit-growing regions, which provide about 20% of the UK's citrus fruit and grapes. Initiatives include clearing invasive plants with high water consumption, restoring rivers, and enhancing catchment-scale water stewardship, leading to water replenishment, biodiversity improvements, and job creation. Our funding through the Waitrose Foundation builds on this project, taking it to different regions, with a focus on Foundation farms. 
 

Peru - in collaboration with IDH's Sustainability Initiative Fruit and Vegetables (SIFAV) and led by Good Stuff International, Waitrose funds a project with other retailers in Ica. Ica is a growing region for avocados, among other products, which has led to over extraction and scarcity of water. The project focuses on strengthening the catchment’s water cycle and biodiversity, reducing soil runoff, and improving livelihoods of communities. These activities will be embedded into an overall water stewardship plan for the area.